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Aortico‐pulmonary paraganglioma. Report of a case with ultrastructural study and review of the literature
Author(s) -
Lack Ernest E.,
Stillinger Richard A.,
Colvin Donald B.,
Groves Robert M.,
Burnette Douglas G.
Publication year - 1979
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0142(197901)43:1<269::aid-cncr2820430139>3.0.co;2-#
Subject(s) - ultrastructure , medicine , paraganglioma , pathology , gastric chief cell , radiation therapy , granular cell , elastin , lung , tumor cells , anatomy , radiology , cancer research , stomach , central nervous system , gastric mucosa
The light microscopic and ultrastructural features of an aortico‐pulmonary paraganglioma (A‐PP) are presented. The tumor was characterized by organoid clustering of neoplastic chief cells to form Zellballen. Argyrophilic granules were demonstrated within chief cell cytoplasm using a modified Grimelius technique. Ultrastructurally, three distinct cell types were present within the tumor: endothelial cells, pericytes and neoplastic chief cells. Membrane‐bound neurosecretory granules were present and measured 100 to 200 nm in diameter. “Light” and “dark” chief cells were less distinct than previously reported in other head and neck paragangliomas. Analysis of the 36 documented A‐PP reported in the English literature reveals that the tumor has been either incompletely excised or has been considered unresectable in one‐third of the cases. The reported surgical mortality is 9%, or approximately equal to the incidence of malignant behavior. The treatment of choice is surgical resection but when this is not possible, radiation may be a useful adjunct in therapy.