Ectopic pheochromocytoma or paraganglioma of the ZUCKERKANDL organ: A case report and review of the literature

•EPIDEMIOLOGY: paraganglioma of the ZUCKERKANDL organ is a rare neuroendocrine tumour but must be known.•DIAGNOSIS: The typical presentation which is the Menard Triad of symptoms, associating headaches, sweating and palpitation. Preoperative diagnosis can be difficult in pauci-symptomatic cases. The Clinical signs, Abdominal-pelvic CT scan and biology are the steps of the preoperative diagnosis.•TREATMENT: Treatment is surgical. Preoperative medical preparation is aimed at reducing risks of peroperative hemodynamic instability. The anesthetist should therefore prepare himself to manage blood pressure peaks during the tumour’s dissection, but also the possible low blood pressure at the end of exeresis. Surgery remains the key element of treatment and consists in exeresis of the paragaglioma.•PROGNOSIS: paraganglioma of the ZUCKERKANDL organ is often a benign tumor. The resuscitation determines the patient’s prognosis. Paraganglioma of the ZUCKERKANDL organ are rare. Diagnosis is based on clinical, radiological and biological arguments. We report a case to describe our surgical procedure and insist on the necessity of preoperative diagnosis. BA, 52-years-old male patient was seen in consultation for left hypochondrium pains. The clinical examination had revealed a painful tumefaction in the left flank and the left hypochondrium. A deep mass was observed, but was difficult to be assessed, due to pain. Abdominal-pelvic CT scan with contrast injection had revealed a tissue mass, suggesting a tumor of the tail of the pancreas. Laparotomy showed this mass was not attached to the tail of the pancreas, and was along the abdominal aorta up to the aortic bifurcation. Upon touching the mass, blood pressure raised up to 240 mmHg. A least mobilization of the mass and the use of nicardipine helped maintain blood pressure below 180mmhg. Dissection was carried out from the aortic bifurcation to the TREITZ’s angle and the mass was removed. The follow-ups were characterized by low blood pressure a few minutes following the resection of the mass. Pheochromocytoma is rare. The Clinical signs, Abdominal-pelvic CT scan and biology are the steps of the preoperative diagnosis. The surgery consists a lumpectomy. The resuscitation determines the patient’s prognosis. Pheochromocytoma is an unusual mass. Preoperative diagnosis can be difficult in pauci-symptomatic cases. One should consider this in the face of any abdominal mass, so as to improve planning of resuscitation which determ