Tracheal paraganglioma: a case report with review of the literature.

Only three cases of tracheal paraganglioma have been reported in the literature. This paper describes an additional case, which showed pharmacological and ultrastructural evidence of hormone secretion. It is suggested that this tumor is derived from true paraganglia located in the trachea and not from misplaced or aberrant paraganglionic tissue. Hemoptysis was the only presenting symptom in two of the four reported cases and significant bleeding occurred during biopsy in the other two cases. The long-term prognosis appears good if complete resection is possible.