Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 16, 2026
Detection of Extravascular Trypanosoma Parasites by Fine Needle Aspiration
Published on: August 7, 2019
Pigmented pheochromocytoma: report of a case with diagnosis by fine needle aspiration
Uma Handa1, Urvashi Khullar, Harsh Mohan
1Department of Pathology, Government Medical College and Hospital, Chandigarh, India.
Background:
Pheochromocytoma is a common tumor of the adrenal medulla, but its pigmented variant is rare.
Case Report:
A 38-year-old woman presented with complaints of abdominal pain. Ultrasound revealed a right suprarenal mass. Fine needle aspiration (FNA) smears showed the characteristic cytomorphology of pheochromocytoma, with melanin pigment in the cytoplasm. Melanin was differentiated from lipofuschin and hemosiderin by various histochemical stains. Histopathologic findings and immunohistochemical stains confirmed the diagnosis. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of pigmented pheochromocytoma diagnosed on FNA.
Conclusion:
FNA has proven to be a rapid and conclusive method of diagnosing pigmented pheochromocytoma, with no complications.
