Paraganglioma in pituitary fossa

• Published in: Neuropathology Vol. 28; no. 5; pp. 547 - 550
• Main Authors: Oezuem, Uenal, Egilmez, Reynah, Yildirim, Altan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Melbourne, Australia Blackwell Publishing Asia 01.10.2008
• Subjects: Aged; Diagnosis, Differential; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Male; neoplasm; paraganglioma; Paraganglioma, Extra-Adrenal - metabolism; Paraganglioma, Extra-Adrenal - pathology; pheochromocytoma; Pituitary Neoplasms - metabolism; Pituitary Neoplasms - pathology; sellar tumor; Tomography, X-Ray Computed
• ISSN: 0919-6544; 1440-1789
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1440-1789.2008.00885.x

Paragangliomas are neuroendocrine tumors of paraganglionic tissue which are extremely rare in the sellar area. We present a case of sellar paraganglioma with parasellar and suprasellar extension in a 70‐year‐old man who presented with headache. CT demonstrated sellar mass with suprasellar and right parasellar extension. The lesion was removed subtotally via a trans‐sphenoidal approach. Histopathological diagnosis was paraganglioma. Differential diagnosis between paragangliomas and unusual types of pituitary adenomas, especially null‐cell adenomas, is made by presence of cell nests (Zellballen) in paraganglioma, lack of immunopositivity for pituitary hormones, cytoplasmic immunopositivity for chromogranin A and neuron‐specific enolase, and immunonegativity for cytokeratin 19, cytokeratin 20 and endomysial antibody. In the case of a mass in the sellar region, paraganglioma, although rare, should be included in the differential diagnosis.