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Updated: Aug 6, 2025

Diagnosis of Hirschsprung's Disease by Immunostaining Rectal Suction Biopsies for Calretinin, S100 Protein and Protein Gene Product 9.5
Published on: April 26, 2019
Abdominal nonfunctional paraganglioma in which succinate dehydrogenase subunit B (SDHB) immunostaining was performed:
Takazo Tanaka1, Akira Joraku2, Sayuri Ishibashi1
1Department of Urology, Ibaraki Prefectural Central Hospital, 6528, Koibuchi, Kasama, Ibaraki, 309-1793, Japan.
Background:
Abdominal nonfunctional paraganglioma is rare. Malignant potential of paraganglioma is assessed by Grading of Adrenal Pheochromocytoma and Paraganglioma score and genetic testing, but genetic testing is not common. We present a case of abdominal nonfunctional paraganglioma whose malignant potential was assessed by grading of adrenal pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma score and succinate dehydrogenase subunit B staining alternative to genetic testing.
Case Presentation:
A 39-year-old Japanese man had a right retroperitoneal tumor without symptoms. Uptake in the tumor was shown by 123I-meta-iodobenzylguanidine scintigraphy. There were no metastases. The results of biochemical workups including blood hormones and urinary metanephrines were normal. We performed retroperitoneoscopic surgery. The tumor was positive for chromogranin A staining but negative for tyrosine hydroxylase. On the basis of the preoperative biochemical workups and pathology results, we diagnosed the tumor as nonfunctional paraganglioma. The Grading of Adrenal Pheochromocytoma and Paraganglioma score classified the tumor as moderately differentiated. Furthermore, negative succinate dehydrogenase subunit B staining suggested the patient has the SDHx (SDHA, SDHB, SDHC and SDHD) mutation.
Conclusion:
Abdominal nonfunctional PGLs are associated with SDHB mutation, and SDHB staining should be performed as a screening.

