Paraganglioma of the spermatic cord: report of one case and review of literature.

Extra-adrenal paraganglioma is rare, and occurs in the retroperitoneum, and head and neck. The incidence rate of paraganglioma in urogenital system is very low, especially in the spermatic cord. A case of paraganglioma of spermatic cord is reported and relevant literature is reviewed. A spermatic cord mass was found in the right scrotum in a middle-aged man 2 years ago, without hormone symptoms. Understanding of clinical and intraoperative frozen pathology was inadequate. Ultrasound images showed that there was abundant blood supply around the right spermatic cord with clear boundaries. The conventional pathology of the tumor presented a typical histologic morphology of paraganglioma. Immunohistochemistry showed that chief tumor cells were CGA (+), syn (+), CD56 (+), SDHB (+), and sertoli cells were S-100 (strong+). There are few reported cases at present, and the etiology and pathogenesis are not clear yet. The rapid frozen pathologic diagnosis during operation is very challenging, and it is easily diagnosed by routine histology combined with immunohistochemistry. Gene detection is recommended if necessary. Early diagnosis is helpful to the choice of operation mode and the prevention and control of intraoperative risk.