BACKGROUND/AIM: Increased dopamine production may be a feature of head and neck paraganglioma (HNPGL). 18F-fluorodihydroxyphenylalanine positron emission tomography scintigraphy has a high sensitivity for detecting HNPGLs. These observations strongly suggest that HNPGLs have the capacity for L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine uptake and conversion towards dopamine. Therefore, our aim was to demonstrate the presence of catecholamine-synthesizing enzymes, i.e. tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase (AADC) and dopamine β-hydroxylase (DBH) in HNPGL tissue. METHODS: A single-center study was performed among patients who underwent surgery for HNPGL at a single university referral center between 1994 and 2012. HNPGL tissue was immunohistochemically stained for TH, AADC and DBH. Data on paraganglioma-associated germline mutations, preoperative biochemical phenotype and imaging studies were retrieved. Catecholamine excess was defined as preoperative plasma and/or urinary levels of metanephrine, normetanephrine or 3-methoxytyramine above the upper reference limit. RESULTS: Nineteen HNPGLs from 18 patients were evaluated. All tumor tissues (100%) stained positive for AADC, 6 (32%) for TH and 2 (11%) for DBH. Of 3 HNPGLs staining positive for DBH, 2 were also positive for AADC and TH. Catecholamine excess was only present in 1 patient (5%). The HNPGLs of this single patient only showed positive staining for AADC. CONCLUSIONS: Catecholamine-synthesizing enzymes, in particular AADC, are expressed in the majority of HNPGL tissues.
BACKGROUND/AIM: Increased dopamine production may be a feature of head and neck paraganglioma (HNPGL). 18F-fluorodihydroxyphenylalanine positron emission tomography scintigraphy has a high sensitivity for detecting HNPGLs. These observations strongly suggest that HNPGLs have the capacity for L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine uptake and conversion towards dopamine. Therefore, our aim was to demonstrate the presence of catecholamine-synthesizing enzymes, i.e. tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase (AADC) and dopamine β-hydroxylase (DBH) in HNPGL tissue. METHODS: A single-center study was performed among patients who underwent surgery for HNPGL at a single university referral center between 1994 and 2012. HNPGL tissue was immunohistochemically stained for TH, AADC and DBH. Data on paraganglioma-associated germline mutations, preoperative biochemical phenotype and imaging studies were retrieved. Catecholamine excess was defined as preoperative plasma and/or urinary levels of metanephrine, normetanephrine or 3-methoxytyramine above the upper reference limit. RESULTS: Nineteen HNPGLs from 18 patients were evaluated. All tumor tissues (100%) stained positive for AADC, 6 (32%) for TH and 2 (11%) for DBH. Of 3 HNPGLs staining positive for DBH, 2 were also positive for AADC and TH. Catecholamine excess was only present in 1 patient (5%). The HNPGLs of this single patient only showed positive staining for AADC. CONCLUSIONS:Catecholamine-synthesizing enzymes, in particular AADC, are expressed in the majority of HNPGL tissues.
Authors: Thamara E Osinga; Thera P Links; Robin P F Dullaart; Karel Pacak; Anouk N A van der Horst-Schrivers; Michiel N Kerstens; Ido P Kema Journal: FASEB J Date: 2017-03-06 Impact factor: 5.191
Authors: Thomas G Papathomas; Diederik P D Suurd; Alfred K Lam; Ronald R de Krijger; Karel Pacak; Arthur S Tischler; Menno R Vriens Journal: Endocr Pathol Date: 2021-01-12 Impact factor: 3.943
Authors: Ozgur Mete; Sylvia L Asa; Anthony J Gill; Noriko Kimura; Ronald R de Krijger; Arthur Tischler Journal: Endocr Pathol Date: 2022-03-13 Impact factor: 3.943
Authors: Lester D R Thompson; Anthony J Gill; Sylvia L Asa; Roderick J Clifton-Bligh; Ronald R de Krijger; Noriko Kimura; Paul Komminoth; Ernest E Lack; Jacques W M Lenders; Ricardo V Lloyd; Thomas G Papathomas; Peter M Sadow; Arthur S Tischler Journal: Hum Pathol Date: 2020-05-11 Impact factor: 3.466