Protocol for the examination of specimens from patients with pheochromocytomas and extra-adrenal paragangliomas

During the last decade there have been revolutionary breakthroughs in understanding the biology of pheochromocytomas and extra-adrenal paragangliomas. Discoveries of new susceptibility genes and genotype-phenotype correlations have led to the realization that appropriate patient care requires a complete integration of clinical, genetic, biochemical, imaging, and pathology findings. Clinical practice has in many cases not kept pace with the rate of discovery, underscoring a need for updated procedures for evaluation of patient specimens and reporting of data. We therefore propose a new synoptic reporting approach for pheochromocytomas and extraadrenal paragangliomas that will provide clear and uniform information to pathologists and clinicians, in order to advance the diagnosis of these neoplasms and optimize patient care.