Review for 10.1186/s12876-019-1061-6 (2019)

Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title:  Hepatic metastatic paraganglioma 12 years after retroperitoneal paraganglioma resection: 
a case report  
 
Version: 0 Date: 21 Jun 2019 
 
Reviewer:  Marco  Carbone  
 
Reviewer’s report:  
 
Zhao -Ru Dong and coauthors report a unique case of liver metastasis from retroperitoneal 
paraganglioma or chemodectoma.  
 
The case is interesting as it show the slow progression of the metastatic disease. However it is 
poorly detailed and it is  not clear the final message.  
 
> Authors are invited to provide more details on the initial history of retroperitoneal resection 
and staging of disease as well as histology assessment; on the size of the liver tumor when found 
at their centre; on the respo nse (that they define failed) to TACE and explain the decision process 
that took to stop the follow -up; how they approached the anaemia, likely related to the tumour 
(did they excluded other causes of microcytic anaemia? she s a lady in fertile age who mig ht 
easily be anemic from period); and what was the decision process after the liver biopsy and 
imaging review, apart from the fact that the patient refused any treatment; what was the rate of 
progression of the tumour per year? Have they performed a tumour  extra liver staging?  
 
> What can the reader learn from this case? Do we need to just observe as you suggest? or it 
might be worth to be aggressive in such big lesions in a 39 years old lady considering that, even 
slowly, the tumour grows?  
 
> English revi ew from a professional writer is strongly suggested.  
 
Are the methods appropriate and well described?  
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Unable to assess  
 
Does the work include the necessary controls?  
If not, please specify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Unable to assess  
 
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the data shown?  
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
Are you able to as sess any statistics in the manuscript or would you recommend an 
additional statistical review?  
If an additional statistical review is recommended, please specify what aspects require further 
assessment in your comments to the editors.  
 
Not relevant to this manuscript  
 
Quality of written English  
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:  
 
Needs some language corrections before being published  
 
Declaration of competing interests  
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