Pulmonary gangliocytic paraganglioma: case report and comparative immunohistochemical study of related neuroendocrine neoplasms

Am J Surg Pathol. 2001 May;25(5):688-93. doi: 10.1097/00000478-200105000-00020.

Abstract

The authors report a case of gangliocytic paraganglioma of the lung, which has not yet been described in a pulmonary neoplasm. A 75-year-old man underwent right middle and lower lobe lobectomy. A slightly yellowish mass was located at the bifurcation between the lower and middle lobe bronchus, protruding into the truncus intermedius. The neoplastic cells were composed of three cellular elements: uniform endocrine cells in a Zellballen arrangement, large ganglion-like cells within the nests of endocrine cells, and spindle-shaped cells arranged in streams to surround the nests. Each component exhibited the characteristic immunohistochemical properties, which were similar to those of the corresponding neuroendocrine neoplasms: Endocrine cells were positive for CAM 5.2, chromogranin A, and synaptophysin, like carcinoid tumor; ganglion-like cells were positive only for neurofilament, like ganglioneuroma; and spindle-shaped cells were positive for neurofilament and S-100 protein, like paraganglioma. These results agreed with those in gangliocytic paraganglioma of the duodenum. Pulmonary gangliocytic paraganglioma is similar to that in the duodenum, and is a hamartomatous proliferation of epithelial endocrine and neuronal cells of the bronchus.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Biomarkers
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / analysis
  • Chromogranin A
  • Chromogranins / analysis
  • Humans
  • Immunoenzyme Techniques
  • Keratins / analysis
  • Lung Neoplasms / chemistry
  • Lung Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging
  • Lung Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Lung Neoplasms / surgery
  • Male
  • Neoplasm Proteins / analysis
  • Neurofilament Proteins / analysis
  • Paraganglioma / chemistry
  • Paraganglioma / diagnostic imaging
  • Paraganglioma / pathology*
  • Paraganglioma / surgery
  • Radiography, Thoracic
  • S100 Proteins / analysis
  • Synaptophysin / analysis
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • CAM 5.2 antigen
  • Chromogranin A
  • Chromogranins
  • Neoplasm Proteins
  • Neurofilament Proteins
  • S100 Proteins
  • Synaptophysin
  • neurofilament protein H
  • Keratins