[Retroperitoneal paraganglioma. Differential diagnosis with hypernephroma]

Paraganglioma are tumours that show embryological origin from the neural crest, and which derive from the paraganglia. They can be found in any location throughout the aorta and/or in association to the sympathetic chain. They can be either functioning or non-functioning based on hormone production. The authors present here a non-functioning retroperitoneal paraganglioma as an incidental finding in a 72-year old female patient. Pre-operative diagnosis was cystic hypernephroma, for which radical nephrectomy was performed. The extra-renal origin of the tumour was found subsequently on examining the piece. A discussion is included on the diagnosis, treatment, prognosis as well as a review of the literature.