Pigmented Composite Paraganglioma-Ganglioneuroma of the Urinary Bladder

Authors: Pavel Dundr¹; Daniela Dudorkinová¹; Ctibor Pový scaron il¹; Michael Pe scaron l²; Marko Babjuk²; Jan Dvo rcaron á ccaron ek²; Tomá scaron Zelinka³

Source: Pathology Research and Practice, Volume 199, Number 11, December 2003 , pp. 765-769(5)

Publisher: Urban & Fischer

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Abstract:

We report a case of a pigmented composite paraganglioma-ganglioneuroma of the urinary bladder in a 70-year-old female. Grossly, the tumor measured 6.5 cm in diameter and had arisen from the base of the urinary bladder. Histologically, the tumor was composed of approximately equal components of paraganglioma and ganglioneuroma, which were partly separated and partly mixed, and intermingled with each other. There were foci of ample dark brown pigmentation in the cytoplasm of chromaffin paraganglioma cells. The pigment was Masson-Fontana-positive and had been bleached by hydrogen peroxid (H₂O₂). Electron microscopy showed large, abundant, pleomorphic electron-dense granules consistent with neuromelanin. In addition, there were numerous electron-dense neurosecretory-type granules. Neuromelanin, melanin or lipofuscin are occasionally observed in paragangliomas, although the occurrence of these pigments has never been described in a composite tumor originating from either adrenal medulla or extraadrenal paraganglia. To the best of our knowledge, our report represents the first case of pigmented composite paraganglioma-ganglioneuroma and expands the morphological spectrum of these unusual tumors.

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1078/0344-0338-00495

Affiliations: 1: Departments of Pathology, 1st Medical Faculty, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic 2: Departments of Urology, 1st Medical Faculty, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic 3: Departments of Internal Medicine, 1st Medical Faculty, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic

Publication date: 2003-12-01