[Extra-adrenal pheochromocytoma]

In the course of 35 years at the Urological Clinic in Hradec Hrálové 44 pheochromocytomas were operated incl. 16 extraadrenal ones (36%). Eight men and 7 women were operated. In five men and seven women a primary extraadrenal tumour was involved. In three men and the woman a relapse of an extraadrenal pheochromocytoma was operated. The mean age of the whole group of 12 patients operated on account of a relapse of a paraganglioma was 44 years. The time interval after the primary tumour was 3-16 years. Surgically six paragangliomas on the right side and 10 on the left side were operated. The paragangliomas on the right side were at the following sites: three behind the inferior vena cava, one tumour was a multiple one and two tumours were in front of the inferior vena cava. On the left side were two tumours above the bifurcation of the aorta, five were paraaortal and one tumour was on the aorta at the insertion of two renal arteries. Three tumours were in the hilus of the left kidney.