[Hormone-active paragangliomas of the base of the skull]

Biochemical examination of 15 patients with paragangliomas (PG) of the base of the skull was conducted. The content of epinephrine, and norepinephrine, dopamine, and dopa in urine and the content of serotonin and histamine in blood and tumor tissue were studied. Comparison of the biochemical findings with the vegetative symptomatology allowed 3 groups of PG to be distinguished: catecholamine-secreting, serotonin-secreting, and hormone-inactive. The group of serotonin-secreting tumors of the base of the skull has not been described in the literature. The conducted research shows that tests for biogenic amines must be performed not only for diagnostic purposes but also for prognosticating possible surgical complications.