title: Primary pancreatic paraganglioma: a case report and literature review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Primary pancreatic paraganglioma is an extremely rare extra-adrenal paraganglioma.
  
  
  METHODS
  We report a case of primary pancreatic paraganglioma undergoing middle segment pancreatectomy in a 42-year-old woman. Histological examination showed that the tumor was composed of well-defined nests of cuboidal cells separated by vascular fibrous septa, forming the classic Zellballen pattern. The chief cells showed positive staining to neuron-specific enolase, chromogranin A, synaptophysin, and the chief cells were surrounded by S-100 protein-positive sustentacular cells. The patient has remained tumor free for 12 months after surgery. A brief discussion about the histopathological features, clinical behavior, and treatment of primary pancreatic paraganglioma, and review of the relevant literature is presented.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Primary pancreatic paraganglioma is a rare clinical entity, its diagnosis mainly depends on histopathological and immunohistochemical examinations. Complete surgical resection is the first choice of treatment and close postoperative follow-up is necessnary.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, No.17 Yongwai Zhengjie, Nanchang, 330006, Jiangxi, China.
authors.forename: Shengrong
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, No.17 Yongwai Zhengjie, Nanchang, 330006, Jiangxi, China.
authors.forename: Long
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, No.17 Yongwai Zhengjie, Nanchang, 330006, Jiangxi, China.
authors.forename: Song
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, No.17 Yongwai Zhengjie, Nanchang, 330006, Jiangxi, China.
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, No.17 Yongwai Zhengjie, Nanchang, 330006, Jiangxi, China. frankxwd@126.com.
authors.forename: Weidong
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Xiao
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010180:Pancreatectomy; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D010235:Paraganglioma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery