Pigmented pheochromocytoma: report of a case with diagnosis by fine needle aspiration.
BACKGROUND
Pheochromocytoma is a common tumor of the adrenal medulla, but its pigmented variant is rare.


METHODS
A 38-year-old woman presented with complaints of abdominal pain. Ultrasound revealed a right suprarenal mass. Fine needle aspiration (FNA) smears showed the characteristic cytomorphology of pheochromocytoma, with melanin pigment in the cytoplasm. Melanin was differentiated from lipofuschin and hemosiderin by various histochemical stains. Histopathologic findings and immunohistochemical stains confirmed the diagnosis. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of pigmented pheochromocytoma diagnosed on FNA.


CONCLUSIONS
FNA has proven to be a rapid and conclusive method of diagnosing pigmented pheochromocytoma, with no complications.
Handa
Uma
U
Department of Pathology, Government Medical College and Hospital, Chandigarh, India.
Khullar
Urvashi
U
Mohan
Harsh
H
D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle; D005260:Female; D006485:Hemosiderin / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008062:Lipofuscin / Q000378:metabolism; D008543:Melanins / Q000378:metabolism; D010673:Pheochromocytoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
D008062:Lipofuscin; D008543:Melanins; D006485:Hemosiderin