Melanotic paraganglioma of the posterior mediastinum

A melanotic paraganglioma occurred in a 57-year-old woman, located in the left paravertebral space of the upper mediastinum. It was totally resected. During a 5 year follow up period neither tumour reccurrence nor metastasis were observed. Histological examination of the tumour revealed a paragangli...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Hofmann, Walter J. (Author) , Wöckel, Werner (Author) , Thetter, Olaf (Author) , Otto, Herwart F. (Author)
Format: Article (Journal)
Language:English
Published: January 1995
In: Virchows Archiv
Year: 1995, Volume: 425, Issue: 6, Pages: 641-646
ISSN:1432-2307
DOI:10.1007/BF00199354
Online Access:Verlag, lizenzpflichtig, Volltext: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00199354
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Author Notes:Walter J. Hofmann, Werner Wöckel, Olaf Thetter, Herwart F. Otto
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Summary:A melanotic paraganglioma occurred in a 57-year-old woman, located in the left paravertebral space of the upper mediastinum. It was totally resected. During a 5 year follow up period neither tumour reccurrence nor metastasis were observed. Histological examination of the tumour revealed a paraganglioma with monomorphous chief cell like elements which were arranged in a “zellballen” pattern. Immunohistochemical results also were in accordance with the diagnosis since neuron-specific enolase, chromogranin and synaptophysin were found in tumour cells whereas keratin was not. Additionally, neurosecretory granules were found in tumour cells during electron microscopy. A peculiar feature of the tumour was its strong pigmentation due to melanin located within the tumour cells and tumour associated melanophages. The simultaneous expression of functional properties of two different neural crest derived cells in one tumour stresses the close relationship between all neural crest elements and is in accordance with the observation of other melanotic, non-melanomatous tumours.
Item Description:Gesehen am 17.11.2025
Physical Description:Online Resource
ISSN:1432-2307
DOI:10.1007/BF00199354