Extra-adrenal paraganglioma and pulmonary chondroma: a case report and review of the literature.

This report describes the findings of an extra-adrenal paraganglioma and chondroma of the lung in an elderly man. Tissue analysis of the paraganglioma showed a high level of catecholamines, as well as the presence of somatostatin and small amounts of other peptide hormones. Immunoperoxidase staining demonstrated the distribution of peptide hormones in the tumor. This case illustrates two important points. First, it confirms the ability of paraganglionic tissue to secrete peptide hormones. Secondary, it adds yet another case to the unusual group of patients described by Carney (Carney JA: Cancer 43:374-382, 1979).