Pigmented Ganglioneuroblastoma: Relation of Melanin and Lipofuscin to Schwannomas and Other Tumors of Neural Crest Origin

Abstract

An unusual case of ganglioneuroblastoma containing melanin is presented. Electron microscopy revealed various stages of development of melanosomes in neoplastic cells of Schwann, the first direct demonstration in human material that these cells are malanogenic. The frequent occurrence of neuromelanin in autonomic ganglia and in ganglioneuromas is interpreted as the presence of altered lipofuscin. Review of ultrastructural and other observations indicates a relation between various pigmented tumors, the cell of Schwann, and other cells arising from the neural crest.