title: [Two cases of paragangliomas of the cauda equina--case reports and review of the literature].
abstract: Paragangliomas are tumors arising in the paraganglia and rarely occurring in the cauda equina. We report two cases of paraganglioma arising in this region. The tumors exhibited a typical "Zellballen" pattern, and immunohistochemical studies were positive for neuron-specific enolase, but negative for S-100 protein and glial fibrillary acidic protein. Electron microscopic studies confirmed electron-dense neurosecretory types of granules in the tumor cells. Only 23 cases of paragangliomas in this region have been previously reported. A brief review of the literature is included.
mesh_terms: D002420:Cauda Equina; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010235:Paraganglioma / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D010524:Peripheral Nervous System Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery