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Peer-reviewedCC BYCase reports in pathology

Porta Hepatis Paraganglioma: A Rare Case Report With Diagnostic Pitfalls.

  • Maryam Vajihinejad1
  • Soroosh Najafi2
  • Amirpasha Amlelshahbaz3
  • Sayed Ahmadreza Saeed2
  1. 1Department of Pathology Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences Yazd Iran ssu.ac.ir.
  2. 2School of Medicine Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences Yazd Iran ssu.ac.ir.
  3. 3Department of Radiology Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences Yazd Iran ssu.ac.ir.
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Abstract

Paragangliomas are rare neuroendocrine tumors that infrequently localize to the porta hepatis, where they create significant diagnostic challenges by mimicking hepatocellular carcinoma or distinct mesenchymal neoplasms. We report the case of a 64-year-old woman presenting with vague abdominal pain and an enhancing porta hepatis mass compressing the inferior vena cava. An initial core needle biopsy, which suggested a benign mesenchymal tumor, underscores the potential for misdiagnosis in such atypical presentations. During surgery, the patient developed paroxysmal hypertension suggestive of occult catecholamine release. Subsequent histopathological examination revealed a classic zellballen pattern, with immunohistochemical positivity for Chromogranin A, Synaptophysin, and S100 definitively confirming a paraganglioma. The patient remains disease-free at a 2-year follow-up. This case highlights the importance of considering paraganglioma in the differential diagnosis of porta hepatis masses and emphasizes the value of histopathology and immunohistochemistry for accurate diagnosis, particularly in patients who lack preoperative adrenergic symptoms.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{vajihinejad2026porta,
  title = {{Porta Hepatis Paraganglioma: A Rare Case Report With Diagnostic Pitfalls.}},
  author = {Maryam Vajihinejad and Soroosh Najafi and Amirpasha Amlelshahbaz and Sayed Ahmadreza Saeed},
  journal = {Case reports in pathology},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.1155/crip/4237665},
  url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42923456},
  note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Porta Hepatis Paraganglioma: A Rare Case Report With Diagnostic Pitfalls.
AU  - Maryam Vajihinejad
AU  - Soroosh Najafi
AU  - Amirpasha Amlelshahbaz
AU  - Sayed Ahmadreza Saeed
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/21
JO  - Case reports in pathology
DO  - 10.1155/crip/4237665
UR  - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42923456
AB  - Paragangliomas are rare neuroendocrine tumors that infrequently localize to the porta hepatis, where they create significant diagnostic challenges by mimicking hepatocellular carcinoma or distinct mesenchymal neoplasms. We report the case of a 64-year-old woman presenting with vague abdominal pain and an enhancing porta hepatis mass compressing the inferior vena cava. An initial core needle biopsy, which suggested a benign mesenchymal tumor, underscores the potential for misdiagnosis in such atypical presentations. During surgery, the patient developed paroxysmal hypertension suggestive of occult catecholamine release. Subsequent histopathological examination revealed a classic zellballen pattern, with immunohistochemical positivity for Chromogranin A, Synaptophysin, and S100 definitively confirming a paraganglioma. The patient remains disease-free at a 2-year follow-up. This case highlights the importance of considering paraganglioma in the differential diagnosis of porta hepatis masses and emphasizes the value of histopathology and immunohistochemistry for accurate diagnosis, particularly in patients who lack preoperative adrenergic symptoms.
SN  - 2090-6781
SN  - 2090-679X
ER  -