An extremely large solitary primary paraganglioma of the lung: report of a case

Surg Today. 1999;29(11):1195-200. doi: 10.1007/BF02482272.

Abstract

We present herein the case of a 38-year-old woman found to have an extremely large solitary primary paraganglioma of the lung. The patient presented with chest pain on exertion and a mass was discovered in the left lower lobe of the lung by chest X-rays and computed tomography (CT). As no other neoplasms were detected elsewhere, a left lower lobectomy was performed. The patient has remained well without any evidence of recurrence for 5 years since her operation. The tumor, measuring 13 x 12 x 7 cm, was composed of ovoid cells (Zellballen), which were positive for Fontana-Masson and Grimelius stains, and sustentacular cells. Immunohistochemically, the ovoid cells were positive for neuron-specific enolase, S-100, CAM5.2, Leu7, and chromogranin A, and negative for carcinoembryonic antigen and epithelial membrane antigen. The sustentacular cells were positive for S-100 protein and CAM5.2, and negative for glial fibrillary acid protein. Therefore, the tumor was diagnosed as a paraganglioma. The tumor from our patient is the largest of the 17 solitary primary pulmonary paragangliomas reported thus far in the English-language literature.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Biopsy, Needle
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Lung Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Lung Neoplasms / surgery
  • Paraganglioma / diagnosis
  • Paraganglioma / pathology*
  • Paraganglioma / surgery
  • Pneumonectomy / methods
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Treatment Outcome