HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Figures Only Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Rao, A. B. Articles by Adair, C. F. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Rao, A. B. Articles by Adair, C. F. Related Collections Neuroradiology Head and Neck

From the Archives of the AFIP¹

Paragangliomas of the Head and Neck: Radiologic-Pathologic Correlation

¹ From the Departments of Radiologic Pathology (A.B.R., K.K.K.) and Otolaryngic and Endocrine Pathology (C.F.A.), Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, 14th St at Alaska Ave, Bldg 54, Rm M-121 Washington, DC 20306-6000 and the Departments of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine (K.K.K.) and Pathology (C.F.A.), Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Md. Received May 5, 1999; revision requested May 20 and received June 21; accepted June 21. Address reprint requests to K.K.K.

Paragangliomas of the head and neck are ubiquitous in their distribution, originating from the paraganglia or glomus cells within the carotid body, vagal nerve, middle ear, jugular foramen, and numerous other locations. The typical patient is middle-aged and presents late in the course of the disease, with a painless slow-growing mass. Clinical manifestations include hoarseness of voice, lower cranial nerve palsies, pulsatile tinnitus, and other neuro-otologic symptoms. The overall prognosis of patients with a cervical paraganglioma is favorable, whereas its temporal bone counterpart often results in recurrence, residual tumor, and neurovascular compromise when in the advanced stage. Pathologic examination reveals a characteristic biphenotypic cell line, composed of chief cells and sustentacular cells with a peripheral fibrovascular stromal layer that are organized into a whorled pattern ("zellballen"). Imaging hallmarks of paragangliomas of the head and neck include an enhancing soft-tissue mass in the carotid space, jugular foramen, or tympanic cavity at computed tomography; a salt-and-pepper appearance at standard spin-echo magnetic resonance imaging; and an intense blush at angiography. Imaging studies depict the location and extent of tumor involvement, help determine the surgical approach, and help predict operative morbidity and mortality. Surgical treatment is definitive. Radiation treatment is included as a palliative adjunct for the exceptional paraganglioma not amenable to surgery.

Index Terms: Head and neck neoplasms, 127.3642, 21.369, 276.369 • Paraganglioma, 127.3642, 21.369, 276.369

This article has been cited by other articles:

				S. Arya, V. Rao, S. Juvekar, and A.K. Dcruz Carotid Body Tumors: Objective Criteria to Predict the Shamblin Group on MR Imaging AJNR Am. J. Neuroradiol., August 1, 2008; 29(7): 1349 - 1354. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				F. Neves, L. Huwart, G. Jourdan, D. Reizine, P. Herman, E. Vicaut, and J.P. Guichard Head and Neck Paragangliomas: Value of Contrast-Enhanced 3D MR Angiography AJNR Am. J. Neuroradiol., May 1, 2008; 29(5): 883 - 889. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. M. Intenzo, S. Jabbour, H. C. Lin, J. L. Miller, S. M. Kim, D. M. Capuzzi, and E. P. Mitchell Scintigraphic Imaging of Body Neuroendocrine Tumors RadioGraphics, September 1, 2007; 27(5): 1355 - 1369. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. Balcombe, D. A. Torigian, W. Kim, and W. T. Miller Jr. Cross-Sectional Imaging of Paragangliomas of the Aortic Body and Other Thoracic Branchiomeric Paraganglia Am. J. Roentgenol., April 1, 2007; 188(4): 1054 - 1058. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S Morley and T J Beale Imaging of deafness and tinnitus Imaging, March 1, 2007; 19(1): 55 - 70. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. Y. Lee, Y.-W. Oh, H. J. Noh, Y. J. Lee, H.-S. Yong, E.-Y. Kang, K. A. Kim, and N. J. Lee Extraadrenal paragangliomas of the body: imaging features. Am. J. Roentgenol., August 1, 2006; 187(2): 492 - 504. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. van den Berg, B. M. Verbist, B. J. A. Mertens, A. G. L. van der Mey, and M. A. van Buchem Head and Neck Paragangliomas: Improved Tumor Detection Using Contrast-Enhanced 3D Time-of-Flight MR Angiography As Compared with Fat-Suppressed MR Imaging Techniques AJNR Am. J. Neuroradiol., May 1, 2004; 25(5): 863 - 870. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. J. Macdonald, K. L. Salzman, H. R. Harnsberger, E. Gilbert, and C. Shelton Primary Jugular Foramen Meningioma: Imaging Appearance and Differentiating Features Am. J. Roentgenol., February 1, 2004; 182(2): 373 - 377. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				F. Bonneville, J.-L. Sarrazin, K. Marsot-Dupuch, C. Iffenecker, Y.-S. Cordoliani, D. Doyon, and J.-F. Bonneville Unusual Lesions of the Cerebellopontine Angle: A Segmental Approach RadioGraphics, March 1, 2001; 21(2): 419 - 438. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. K. Koeller, R. S. Rosenblum, and A. L. Morrison Neoplasms of the Spinal Cord and Filum Terminale: Radiologic-Pathologic Correlation RadioGraphics, November 1, 2000; 20(6): 1721 - 1749. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]