Anterior mediastinal paraganglioma: a case for preoperative embolization.

Background: Paraganglioma is a rare but highly vascular tumor of the anterior mediastinum. Surgical resection is a challenge owing to the close proximity to vital structures including the heart, trachea and great vessels. Preoperative embolization has been reported once to facilitate surgical treatment.

Methods: We report a case of anterior mediastinal paraganglioma that was embolized preoperatively, and was resected without the need for cardiopulmonary bypass and without major bleeding complications.

Conclusions: We make a case to further the role of preoperative embolization in the treatment of mediastinal paragangliomas.