Paraganglioma resection requiring left atrial reconstruction

Abstract

Paragangliomas, also known as extra-adrenal pheochromocytomas, arise from chromaffin cells within the autonomonicganglia. Catecholamine secreting paragangliomas have been described in themediastinum, but rarely invade the heart. This case describes the use of a novel bioabsorbablematrix that was used to replace a tumor invading the posterior left atrium. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.