Paraganglioma with unusual presentation in parotid gland: A diagnostic dilemma in fine needle aspiration

Abstract

Paragangliomas (PGLs) are uncommon tumors. Although PGLs are known to occur in the head and neck region, especially the carotid body, middle ear, and larynx, involvement of the parotid glands has not been reported. In this article, we report the fine needle aspiration features of tumor in an unusual location, presenting as a parotid gland mass, submitted to pathology for initial diagnosis. The clinical presentation, cytomorphology, and the immunohistochemical features for the diagnosis are described. To our knowledge, this is the first case of paraganglioma of the parotid gland reported in the literature.

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

“…The cells are relatively uniform in size with mild to moderate variation . Marked anisonucleosis and multinucleation have been described in several reports and may mislead one to consider high grade malignancy . Intranuclear pseudoinclusions and cytoplasmic vacuoles may also be observed .…”

A rare case of an epidermoid cyst of the parotid gland, from a radiologist perspective

“…Its characteristic feature is a distinctive “salt and pepper” pattern on T1-weighted images in MRI scans with contrast enhancement. Those tumor can exhibit hemorrhage and cystic degeneration [ [9] , [10] , [11] ].…”

Preoperative Direct Puncture Embolization of Castleman Disease of the Parotid Gland: A Case Report

“…MR and CT imaging typically exhibit specific features, demonstrating a hyper-enhancing soft-tissue mass that may appear homogeneous or het-erogeneous, often displaying multiple areas of signal void interspersed with hyperintense foci, giving rise to a "salt-and-pepper" appearance. Angiography commonly reveals an intense tumor blush along with enlarged feeding arteries, underscoring the highly vascular nature of the tumor [17][18][19].…”