Diverse proportion in composite pheochromocytoma-ganglioneuroma may induce varied clinical symptom: comparison of two cases

Int J Clin Exp Pathol. 2015 Nov 1;8(11):15369-74. eCollection 2015.

Abstract

Composite pheochromocytoma-ganglioneuroma is extremely rare. We described two cases of composite pheochromocytomas in the adrenal medullar. Case 1 was a 70-year-old male presenting with lower abdominal pain and normal blood electrolytes. Case 2 was a 48-year-old female with palpitation and back tenderness. Biochemical investigations showed hypocalcium, hypokalemia and high level of vma. The histological images and the immunohistochemical staining demonstrated the two cases composed of pheochromocytoma and ganglioneuromoma components. Ganglioneuroma component in case 2 accounted for more proportion than that in case 1. We speculated that the varied clinical symptoms were related with the diverse proportions in composite pheochromocytome-ganglioneuroma.

Keywords: Composite pheochromocytoma; clinical symptom; ganglioneuroma; pheochromocytoma.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / chemistry
  • Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / complications
  • Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / surgery
  • Adrenal Medulla / chemistry
  • Adrenal Medulla / pathology*
  • Adrenal Medulla / surgery
  • Adrenalectomy
  • Aged
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / analysis
  • Biopsy
  • Female
  • Ganglioneuroma / chemistry
  • Ganglioneuroma / complications
  • Ganglioneuroma / pathology*
  • Ganglioneuroma / surgery
  • Humans
  • Hypocalcemia / etiology
  • Hypokalemia / etiology
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasms, Complex and Mixed*
  • Pheochromocytoma / chemistry
  • Pheochromocytoma / complications
  • Pheochromocytoma / pathology*
  • Pheochromocytoma / surgery
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor