Peripancreatic paraganglioma mimics pancreatic/gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumor on fine needle aspiration: Report of two cases and review of the literature

Jennifer Zeng, Aylin Simsir, Thaira Oweity, Cristina Hajdu, Steven Cohen, Yan Shi

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

12 Scopus citations

Abstract

Cytologic diagnosis of extra-adrenal paraganglioma presenting as a peripancreatic mass is challenging with a high error rate due to its rarity. We report two cases of peripancreatic masses identified by radiology. Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (FNA) of the masses showed a moderately cellular tumor composed of small to medium sized neoplastic cells with round to oval nuclei, arranged singly and in loose clusters. Focal rosette-like structures were present. The cells were positive for neuroendocrine markers (synaptophysin and chromogranin). A diagnosis of a neoplasm with neuroendocrine differentiation and neuroendocrine tumor was made respectively on FNA for each case. The subsequent surgical resection of the tumors revealed peripancreatic paraganglioma. Although paraganglioma has been reported in the literature, the detailed comparison of perpancreatic paraganglioma versus pancreatic/gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumor is still lacking. Therefore using these two cases with literature review, we wish to illustrate the differential diagnosis between these two entities based on cytomorphology and immunohistochemical study.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)947-952
Number of pages6
JournalDiagnostic Cytopathology
Volume45
Issue number10
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 2017
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • cytology
  • fine needle aspiration
  • neuroendocrine tumor
  • pancreas
  • paraganglioma

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pathology and Forensic Medicine
  • Histology

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