Paraganglioma of the vagina: report of a case, including immunohistochemical and ultrastructural findings.

Paragangliomas are uncommon neoplasms of the female genital tract, with fewer than 15 reported cases arising from the uterus, ovary, vagina, and cervix. Three of these tumors presented in the vagina. This report describes the authors' experience with a paraganglioma of the vagina in a 24-year-old woman that presented as an asymptomatic mass. The histologic features in the initial biopsy proved again that the paraganglioma may be confused with other vascular neoplasms. The clinical course after the biopsy implied that this neoplasm had been awakened from its functionless dormancy.