Paraganglioma of the cauda equina

Abstract

An unusual, well demarcated, and encapsulated neoplasm of the cauda equina [in a human] is presented. At first, the tumor was considered to be a variant of myxopapillary ependymoma, but the reaction for glial fibrillary acidic protein was negative. At the ultrastructural level, the neoplastic cells contained many small dense core vesicles, and the diagnosis of paraganglioma was established. The literature and histogenesis of paraganglioma of the cauda equina is reviewed.