Pathologic quiz case. Mass at the ampulla of vater in a 43-year-old man. Gangliocytic paraganglioma

Periampullary Gangliocytic Paraganglioma

BACKGROUND

Gangliocytic paraganglioma (GP) is rare and difficult to be differentiated from other periampullary neoplasms. The clinical characteristics and optimal treatment of periampullary GPs have not been clarified.

METHODS

The data pool for the analysis comprised of cases of periampullary GP encountered in our institution and sporadic cases reported in the English literature.

RESULTS

A total of 117 cases with periampullary GP were studied, including 2 from our institute, and among them, duodenal GP was the most common (53.0%). GP size ranged from 0.7 to 19.0 cm, with a median of 2.2 cm. The most common presenting symptom for overall periampullary GPs was epigastric pain in 49.5% cases, followed by gastrointestinal bleeding in 35.4% cases. Most (84.1%) of the periampullary GPs were benign, whereas 15.9% were malignant. Metastasis was noted in 26.3% of periampullary GPs, with 14.5% showing lymph node metastasis and 1.8% showing liver metastasis. Of the periampullary GP cases included, 30.1% were treated with pancreaticoduodenectomy, 40.6% with local excision, and 17.7% with endoscopic resection.

CONCLUSIONS

Periampullary GP should be considered as a tumor with malignant potential. Endoscopic resection is the treatment of choice for most of the duodenal GPs, whereas pancreaticoduodenectomy is recommended for GPs with possible malignancy, such as large size, with submucosal invasion, or pancreatic GP.

Duodenal gangliocytic paraganglioma: a radiological-pathological correlation

Duodenal gangliocytic paraganglioma is a rare tumor that characteristically occurs in the second portion of the duodenum and typically presents with gastrointestinal bleeding. Gangliocytic paragangliomas have a characteristic triphasic microscopic appearance with epithelioid cells, spindle cells, and ganglion cells, resulting in a complex histology with features of paraganglioma, carcinoid, and ganglioneuroma. Duodenal gangliocytic paragangliomas have an excellent prognosis after surgical resection but metastatic spread to regional lymph nodes and recurrence may rarely occur. We report a case of duodenal gangliocytic paraganglioma and discuss the radiological and pathological differential diagnosis of this rare entity.

Locally advanced duodenal gangliocytic paraganglioma treated with adjuvant radiation therapy: case report and review of the literature

BACKGROUND: Gangliocytic paraganglioma are rare neoplasms that predominantly arise in periampulary region. Though considered benign the disease can spread to regional lymphatics. CASE PRESENTATION: A 49 year old woman presented with melena and was found to have a periampullary mass. Endoscopic evaluation and biopsy demonstrated a periampullary paraganglioma. The tumor was resected with pylorus-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy and was found to represent a gangliocytic paraganglioma associated with nodal metastases. In a controversial decision, the patient was treated with adjuvant external beam radiation therapy. She is alive and well one year following resection. The authors have reviewed the current literature pertaining to this entity and have discussed the biologic behavior of the tumor as well as the rationale for treatment strategies employed. CONCLUSION: Paraganglioma is a rare tumor that typically resides in the gastrointestinal tract and demonstrates low malignant potential. Due to rarity of the disease there is no consensus on the adjuvant treatment even though nearly 5% of the lesions demonstrate the malignant potential.