Simultaneous Detection of Primary Pulmonary Paraganglioma and a Mediastinal Mass: A Case Report

Primary pulmonary paraganglioma (PPP) is an extremely rare neuroendocrine tumor. We present the case of a 71-year-old woman referred for dyspnea who was incidentally diagnosed with both a mediastinal mass and a pulmonary nodule. Chest computed tomography revealed an anterior mediastinal mass and a right-sided paracardiac pulmonary nodule. The mediastinal mass was excised via median sternotomy, and the pulmonary lesion was removed by wedge resection. Histopathological analysis identified the pulmonary lesion as a moderately differentiated paraganglioma, while the mediastinal mass consisted of ectopic thyroid tissue. Although the lesions were discovered simultaneously, their histopathological features were entirely unrelated, indicating a coincidental coexistence. Nevertheless, thorough histopathological examination is essential to exclude syndromic or metastatic associations. PPP should be considered in the differential diagnosis of pulmonary tumors, and surgical resection remains the mainstay of diagnosis and treatment.