The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism
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J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. · Sep 2002
Case ReportsFamilial malignant catecholamine-secreting paraganglioma with prolonged survival associated with mutation in the succinate dehydrogenase B gene.
Approximately 10% of catecholamine-secreting tumors are malignant, and 10% are familial. These tumors have been associated with several hereditary syndromes, including multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2, von Hippel-Lindau syndrome, neurofibromatosis type 1, and familial paraganglioma. Mutations in succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) subunit genes have been identified in some kindreds with catecholamine-secreting tumors. ⋯ Sequencing of the SDHB gene in the tumors did not reveal any somatic mutations or loss of heterozygosity of the remaining allele. Thirty years after the initial diagnosis, the father is one of the longest living survivors of malignant catecholamine-secreting paraganglioma. Our findings indicate that mutations in SDHB may be associated with metastatic, yet clinically indolent, abdominal paraganglioma in some families.