Primary cutaneous paraganglioma of the scalp

Paragangliomas are neuroendocrine tumors that arise in relation to the sympathetic or parasympathetic ganglia of the autonomic nervous system. Rarely, they are reported in unusual locations such as the urinary bladder, prostate, and uterus. Herein, we report a case of primary cutaneous paraganglioma of the scalp in a child. The tumor was studied histologically, immunohistochemically, and ultrastructurally. This case might represent an aberrant migration of neural crest cells in their descent toward the branchial arches. In addition, it highlights the complex interaction of the neural crest and branchial arches/clefts during embryogenesis.