Intrapericardial paraganglioma.

We report a case of intrapericardial paraganglioma accidentally discovered during surgery for mixed mitral valve disease. The 6 cm tumor was located in the aorta-caval groove, adherent to the roof of the left atrium and compressing the superior vena cava. A biopsy of the mass established the histological diagnosis of a non pressor secreting paraganglioma. The tumor was resected 2 months after the original mitral valve surgery. The patient made an uneventful recovery and remains well 2 years after surgery.