ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Latin American reports on pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas (PPGLs) are scarce. Recent studies demonstrate changes in clinical presentation and management of these patients. Herein, we assessed the main characteristics of PPGL patients in our academic center over the past 4 decades. METHODS: Demographic, clinical, biochemical, and perioperative data from 105 PPGL patients were retrospectively and prospectively collected over the 1980-2019 period. Data were organized into 4 periods by decade. RESULTS: Age at diagnosis, gender, tumor size and percentage of bilaterality, percentage of paragangliomas, and metastases remained stable across the 4 decades. The proportion of genetic testing and incidentalomas increased in recent decades (all P < 0.001). Therefore, we compared PPGLs diagnosed as incidentalomas (36%) with those clinically suspected (64%). Incidentalomas had fewer adrenergic symptoms (38 vs. 62%; P < 0.001) and lower rates of hypertension (64% vs. 80%; P = 0.01) and hypertensive crisis (28% vs. 44%; P = 0.02); also, they had lower functionality (79% vs. 100%; P = 0.01) and lower catecholamines levels (8.4-fold vs. 12.5-fold above upper cutoffs; P = 0.04). Regarding management of all PPGLs over the decades, we observed significant increases in both perioperative doxazosin dose (P = 0.003) and laparoscopic approach rates (P < 0.001), along with a decrease in the length of hospital stays (P = 0.007). CONCLUSIONS: We observed a change in the clinical presentation of PPGL in recent decades, with a marked increase in incidental cases and milder symptoms. The implementation of a multidisciplinary program for adrenal disorders in our institution has translated into more timely diagnoses, more genetic testing, and improvements in perioperative management.
ABSTRACT
Los mucoceles son quistes expansivos e indolentes de las cavidades paranasales. A pesar de ser lesiones benignas, tienen potencial destructivo local por su expansión crónica y cambios óseos. Su ubicación más frecuente es frontoetmoidal. Se postula que su origen es por alteración de la vía de drenaje de los senos. La clínica es dependiente de su ubicación: los mucoceles frontoetmoidales presentan aumento de volumen, cefalea o proptosis. Las imágenes juegan un rol importante en el diagnóstico, siendo la tomografía computarizada y la resonancia magnética los exámenes que detectan patrones sugerentes de mucoceles. El tratamiento es quirúrgico, donde el abordaje endoscópico ha desplazado al abierto por ser mínimamente invasivo, presentar menos comorbilidades y tener menor tasa de recurrencia.
Mucoceles are expansive and indolent cyst of the paranasal cavities. Despite being benign lesions, they have local destructive potential because of its chronic expansion and bony changes. Its most common location is frontoethmoidal. Alterations in the drainage pathway of sinus is thought to be the origin of mucoceles. The clinical features depend on the location. Frontoethmoidal often presents frontal swelling, headache or proptosis. Imaging plays an important part of diagnosis. Tomography and magnetic resonance have patterns that can suggest the presence of a mucocele. Paranasal sinus mucoceles are primarily treated surgically. The endoscopic surgical management has replaced the open resection because of its minimally invasive treatment, less morbidity and low recurrence rates.