SDHC phaeochromocytoma and paraganglioma: a UK-wide case series

  • Sophie T. Williams
  • , Prodromos Chatzikyriakou
  • , Paul V. Carroll
  • , Barbara M. McGowan
  • , Anand Velusamy
  • , Gemma White
  • , Rupert Obholzer
  • , Scott Akker
  • , Nicola Tufton
  • , Ruth T. Casey
  • , Eamonn R. Maher
  • , Soo-Mi Park
  • , Mary Porteous
  • , Rebecca Dyer
  • , Tricia Tan
  • , Florian Wernig
  • , Angela F. Brady
  • , Monika Kosicka-Slawinska
  • , Benjamin C. Whitelaw
  • , Huw Dorkins
  • Fiona Lalloo, Paul Brennan, Joseph Carlow, Richard Martin, Anna L. Mitchell, Rachel Harrison, Lara Hawkes, John Newell-Price, Alan Kelsall, Rebecca Igbokwe, Julian Adlard, Schaida Schirwani, Rosemarie Davidson, Patrick J. Morrison, Teng-Teng Chung, Christopher Bowles, Louise Izatt

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

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Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Phaeochromocytomas and paragangliomas (PPGL) are rare, but strongly heritable tumours. Variants in succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) subunits are identified in approximately 25% of cases. However, clinical and genetic information of patients with SDHC variants are underreported.

DESIGN: This retrospective case series collated data from 18 UK Genetics and Endocrinology departments.

PATIENTS: Both asymptomatic and disease-affected patients with confirmed SDHC germline variants are included.

MEASUREMENTS: Clinical data including tumour type and location, surveillance outcomes and interventions, SDHC genetic variant assessment, interpretation, and tumour risk calculation.

RESULTS: We report 91 SDHC cases, 46 probands and 45 non-probands. Fifty-one cases were disease-affected. Median age at genetic diagnosis was 43 years (range: 11-79). Twenty-four SDHC germline variants were identified including six novel variants. Head and neck paraganglioma (HNPGL, n = 30, 65.2%), extra-adrenal paraganglioma (EAPGL, n = 13, 28.2%) and phaeochromocytomas (PCC) (n = 3, 6.5%) were present. One case had multiple PPGLs. Malignant disease was reported in 19.6% (9/46). Eight cases had non-PPGL SDHC-associated tumours, six gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GIST) and two renal cell cancers (RCC). Cumulative tumour risk (95% CI) at age 60 years was 0.94 (CI: 0.79-0.99) in probands, and 0.16 (CI: 0-0.31) in non-probands, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: This study describes the largest cohort of 91 SDHC patients worldwide. We confirm disease-affected SDHC variant cases develop isolated HNPGL disease in nearly 2/3 of patients, EAPGL and PCC in 1/3, with an increased risk of GIST and RCC. One fifth developed malignant disease, requiring comprehensive lifelong tumour screening and surveillance.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)499-512
Number of pages14
JournalClinical Endocrinology
Volume96
Issue number4
Early online date24 Sept 2021
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Apr 2022

Keywords

  • gastrointestinal tumour
  • paraganglioma
  • phaeochromocytoma
  • rare diseases
  • succinate dehydrogenase

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