Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Retroperitoneal paraganglioma tumor found in young adult cat
By Sang-June Sohn et al.·Published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science·2025·Western Referral Animal Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea, CH·View original on DOAJ →
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Original publication title: Case Report: Extra-adrenal retroperitoneal paraganglioma in a young adult cat diagnosed by imaging, pathology, and immunohistochemistry
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
An 18-month-old neutered male domestic shorthair cat was brought to the vet with a mass near its adrenal glands. Imaging tests showed an irregular mass that raised concerns about a serious tumor. After a fine-needle aspiration suggested it might be a malignant tumor, the cat underwent surgery to remove the mass. Unfortunately, just two days after surgery, the cat developed a serious complication that led to euthanasia due to a poor prognosis. This case highlights the need for careful diagnosis of unusual masses in young cats.
People also search for: cat tumor near adrenal glands · cat surgery complications · young cat with mass treatment
Abstract
Paragangliomas are rare neuroendocrine tumors arising from paraganglionic tissues associated with the autonomic nervous system. Although they are uncommon in veterinary medicine, particularly in cats, accurate diagnosis is essential due to their potential malignancy. An 18-month-old neutered male domestic shorthair cat presented with a retroperitoneal mass near adrenal glands. Computed tomography revealed an irregular, mildly contrast-enhancing mass abutting both adrenal glands and displacing adjacent vessels. Fine-needle aspiration cytology suggested a malignant round cell tumor with differential diagnosis of lymphoma, nephroblastoma, or primary embryonal tumor. Surgical excision was performed and histopathological examination identified a high-grade round cell neoplasm with a high mitotic index. A broad panel of immunohistochemistry excluded lymphoma and nephroblastoma, confirming extra-adrenal paraganglioma based on strong positivity for anti-synaptophysin, neuron-specific enolase, chromogranin A, and cytokeratin 19 antibodies. On postoperative day two, the cat developed suspected cranial mesenteric artery thrombosis leading to mesenteric ischemia and eventually euthanasia due to poor prognosis. This case emphasizes the importance of considering extra-adrenal paraganglioma in differential diagnoses of retroperitoneal masses in young cats and highlights the critical role of advanced imaging and immunohistochemistry in achieving definitive diagnosis.
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Search related cases →Original publication on DOAJ: https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2025.1636725