Age-related differences of immune infiltrates in pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas

摘要

Introduction:Pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas are rare catecho-lamine-secreting endocrine tumors deriving from chromaf-fin cells of the embryonic neural crest 1. Although these tumors arise in different areas, with pheochromocytomas originating from the adrenal medulla and paragangliomas emerging from extra-adrenal areas most commonly from the abdomen and thorax, they are usually grouped together to underscore their indistinguishable morphology 2. Pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas, hereafter referred as "PCPG," have a reported annual incidence of 1 in 300,000 3. Due to their rarity, certain important clinical characteristics of these tumors have yet to be fully elucidated, namely immune infiltration.