Case Report
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World J Gastrointest Surg. Jul 27, 2013; 5(7): 229-232
Published online Jul 27, 2013. doi: 10.4240/wjgs.v5.i7.229
Hepatic paraganglioma and multifocal gastrointestinal stromal tumor in a female: Incomplete Carney triad
Seong Woo Hong, Woo Yong Lee, Hye Kyung Lee
Seong Woo Hong, Woo Yong Lee, Department of Surgery, Seoul Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Seoul 100-032, South Korea
Hye Kyung Lee, Department of Pathology, Seoul Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Seoul 100-032, South Korea
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to this case report.
Correspondence to: Woo Yong Lee, MD, Department of Surgery, Seoul Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, 85 Jeo-Dong 2-ga, Jung-Gu, Seoul 100-032, South Korea. yongaaa5972@naver.com
Telephone: +82-2-22700247 Fax: +82-2-22700250
Received: April 20, 2013
Revised: May 17, 2013
Accepted: June 20, 2013
Published online: July 27, 2013
Processing time: 82 Days and 15.6 Hours
Abstract

The Carney triad (CT) describes the coexistence of multiple neoplasms including gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs), extra-adrenal paraganglioma and pulmonary chondroma. At least two neoplastic tumors are required for diagnosis. In most cases, however, CT is incomplete. We report a case of an incomplete CT in a 34-year-old woman with a multifocal GIST and non-functional paraganglioma of the liver. Preoperative evaluation with a gastrofiberscope and abdominal computed tomography revealed multiple gastric tumors resembling GISTs and a single liver lesion which was assumed to have metastasized from the gastric tumors. The patient underwent total gastrectomy and partial hepatectomy. Histologic findings confirmed multiple gastric GISTs and paraganglioma of the liver. We report a case of a patient with incomplete expression of CT.

Keywords: Carney triad; Gastrointestinal stromal tumor; Paraganglioma

Core tip: The Carney triad (CT) describes the coexistence of multiple neoplasms including gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs), extra-adrenal paraganglioma and pulmonary chondroma. We report a case of an incomplete CT. CT is a very rare syndrome but Carney et al thoroughly documented its clinical manifestations. The presence of pulmonary chondroma and paraganglioma should be verified, especially in young women with multifocal GISTs to rule out CT.