Biomaterial Database

Melanotic paraganglioma of the posterior mediastinum. 1995

W J Hofmann, and W Wöckel, and O Thetter, and H F Otto

Pathologisches Institut der Universität Heidelberg, Germany.

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 recurrence 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.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008479	Mediastinal Neoplasms	Tumors or cancer of the MEDIASTINUM.	Cancer of Mediastinum,Mediastinal Cancer,Cancer of the Mediastinum,Mediastinum Cancer,Mediastinum Neoplasms,Neoplasms, Mediastinal,Cancer, Mediastinal,Cancer, Mediastinum,Cancers, Mediastinal,Cancers, Mediastinum,Mediastinal Cancers,Mediastinal Neoplasm,Mediastinum Cancers,Mediastinum Neoplasm,Neoplasm, Mediastinal,Neoplasm, Mediastinum,Neoplasms, Mediastinum
D008543	Melanins	Insoluble polymers of TYROSINE derivatives found in and causing darkness in skin (SKIN PIGMENTATION), hair, and feathers providing protection against SUNBURN induced by SUNLIGHT. CAROTENES contribute yellow and red coloration.	Allomelanins,Melanin,Phaeomelanins
D008875	Middle Aged	An adult aged 45 - 64 years.	Middle Age
D010236	Paraganglioma, Extra-Adrenal	A relatively rare, usually benign neoplasm originating in the chemoreceptor tissue of the CAROTID BODY; GLOMUS JUGULARE; GLOMUS TYMPANICUM; AORTIC BODIES; and the female genital tract. It consists histologically of rounded or ovoid hyperchromatic cells that tend to be grouped in an alveolus-like pattern within a scant to moderate amount of fibrous stroma and a few large thin-walled vascular channels. (From Stedman, 27th ed)	Chemodectoma,Paraganglioma, Nonchromaffin,Chemodectomas,Paraganglioma, Non-Chromaffin,Paragangliomas, Familial Nonchromaffin, 1,Extra-Adrenal Paraganglioma,Extra-Adrenal Paragangliomas,Non-Chromaffin Paraganglioma,Non-Chromaffin Paragangliomas,Nonchromaffin Paraganglioma,Nonchromaffin Paragangliomas,Paraganglioma, Extra Adrenal,Paraganglioma, Non Chromaffin,Paragangliomas, Extra-Adrenal,Paragangliomas, Non-Chromaffin,Paragangliomas, Nonchromaffin
D003594	Cytoplasmic Granules	Condensed areas of cellular material that may be bounded by a membrane.	Cytoplasmic Granule,Granule, Cytoplasmic,Granules, Cytoplasmic
D005260	Female		Females
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man