title: [Melanoma of ganglion cells arising from a thoracic sympathetic ganglion in an adult--a case report].
abstract: One case of pigmented tumor arising from the thoracic sympathetic ganglion in a 33 years old man is reported. By microscopy, the tumor cells were arranged in nests, among which ganglionic cells were observed. By Masson-Fontana and Lillie's stain, the pigment in the tumor cells was positive for melanin. By Glees-Marsland's stain, neurofibrils were demonstrated in the cytoplasm of some tumor cells. The presence of melanin and neurofibrils in the tumor cells and the interstitium proves that the tumor is a real melanocytic one arising from the sympathetic ganglion and that both the ganglionic and melanocytic cells originate from the neural crest. The malignancy of this tumor was also evidenced by the rapid extensive metastases occurring half a month after the operation.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005728:Ganglia, Sympathetic; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000473:pathology*; D013899:Thoracic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*