Paraganglioma of the sigmoid colon: report of a unique case with chronic pain syndrome and delayed diagnosis

Aims: Paragangliomas are neuro-endocrine tumours that occur sporadically, but also in several hereditary tumour syndromes. Most paragangliomas follow a benign clinical course. Gastrointestinal paragangliomas are exceptional. Method: We report about a 59-year-old female who presented with an anal pain syndrome persisting for 3+ years. Several diagnostic and therapeutic attempts, including operation and multimodal pain therapy, had failed. MRI showed a 25mm tumor in the posterior wall of the sigmoid colon. Results: We performed a laparoscopic resection of the sigmoid colon, and found a firm, localized, intramural…