Clinical, histopathologic, and radiographic indicators of malignancy in head and neck paragangliomas

Abstract

This study suggests that pain, a rapidly enlarging neck mass, and younger age are predictive factors of underlying malignancy, which should prompt one to consider an aggressive diagnostic and management approach.

Germline mutations and genotype–phenotype associations in head and neck paraganglioma patients with negative family history in China

“…The incidence of HNPGLs has a reported range of 1:30,000 to 1:1,000,00, comprising only 0.6% of all head and neck tumors (Chapman et al, 2010). In the head and neck region, they most commonly arise from the carotid body, followed by jugulotympanic, vagal, laryngeal, and aorticopulmonary paraganglia (Sevilla et al, 2009;Pellitteri et al, 2004;Baysal et al, 2002).…”

“…Non-chromaffin paragangliomas (PGLs), which are rare, highly vascularized, and generally benign tumors, arise mainly in the neural crest chief cells of paraganglia, with an incidence of 1:30,000 to 1:1,000,00 (Sevilla et al, 2009) , (Pellitteri et al, 2004) , (Chapman et al, 2010). In the head and neck region, the carotid body (CB) is the largest of all paraganglia and is also the most common site of the tumors, followed by jugulotympanic, vagal, laryngeal, and aorticopulmonary paraganglia (Sevilla et al, 2009;Pellitteri et al, 2004;Baysal et al, 2002).…”

Radiotherapy for benign head and neck paragangliomas: A 45‐year experience

“…Malignancy is defined by clinical behavior, the development of metastases, and not histologically. There is also some indication that pain, in these typically painless lesions, may help identify the malignant variant . While most metastases in head and neck paragangliomas are confined to the regional lymphatics, distant metastases do occur, usually in the lung and bone.…”

Genetic and clinical characteristics of head and neck paragangliomas in a chinese population

“…The incidence of head and neck PGLs has a reported range of 1:30,000 to 1:100,000, comprising only 0.6% of all head and neck tumors. The reported average age at diagnosis was 34.5 years 15. In the head and neck, they commonly arise from the carotid body, tympanic plexus, jugular bulb, vagal, and sympathetic ganglia.…”