Ganglioneuroblastoma of the posterior mediastinum: a case report

Abstract

IntroductionGanglioneuroblastoma is a rare peripheral neuroblastic tumor that is derived from developing neuronal cells of the sympathetic nervous system, and is found mostly, but not exclusively, in babies and young children.Case presentationTo the best of our knowledge, there have been no previously reported cases of ganglioneuroblastoma of the mediastinum from Pakistan. We present a case of ganglioneuroblastoma in an eight-year-old Pakistani Sindhi boy incidentally found to have a large posterior mediastinal mass that on biopsy initially looked like ganglioneuroma. He underwent successful excision of the mediastinal mass and remained stable post-operatively. Final pathology findings showed a ganglioneuroblastoma. He has remained free of symptoms on long-term follow-up.ConclusionsThe rarity of this tumor along with its almost exclusive occurrence in the pediatric population necessitates a thorough investigation of patients presenting with a symptomatic mass.

Posterior mediastinal ganglioneuroblastoma in an adolescent: A case report and review

“…Here, we present the clinical course of mediastinal GNB discovered in a 17‐year‐old male adolescent. As GNBs occur almost exclusively in the pediatric population, adult onset GNB is uncommon and the mediastinum as the primary site is a further rare clinical manifestation . These points are noteworthy in the present case.…”

“…Early and radical surgery is the best treatment available for mediastinal GNBs . The prognosis is generally favorable with a two‐ and five‐year survival rates of 92% and 88%, respectively, reported in a large series .…”

“…In addition, the most common sites of origin are the adrenal medulla (about 35%), extraadrenal retroperitoneum (30%–35%), and posterior mediastinum (20%) . Although cases of adolescent or adult onset GNB have been reported in the literature, they are extremely rare . With regard to mediastinal GNBs, less than 50 cases of adolescent or adult mediastinal GNB have been reported to date .…”

Retrospective analysis of ten mediastinum schwannomas cases

“…Nörojenik tümörler; mediastinal periferik sinirlerden, sempatik-parasempatik gangliondan ya da nöral tüpün embriyojenik kalıntısından köken almaktadır (6) . Posterior mediastende spinal sinirler, vagus siniri ve sempatik sinir zincilerinin bulunması nedeniyle nörojenik tümörler sıklıkla posterior mediasten yerleşimi göstermekle beraber üst mediasten yerleşimi de gösterebilir (3,(7)(8)(9)(10) . Erişkinde mediastinal nörojenik tümörlerin önemli bir kısmını oluşturan schwannom genellikle interkostal sinir kılıfından köken almakta ve sıklıkla benign seyretmektedir.…”

A Case of Giant, Benign Schwannoma Associated with Total Lung Collapse by Bloody Effusion

“…They develop from mediastinal peripheral nerve, sympathetic and parasympathetic ganglia, and embryonic remnants of neural tube3. Because posterior compartment of mediastinum includes spinal nerves, vagus nerve, and sympathetic chains, neurogenic tumors of the mediastinum are most commonly present in the posterior mediastinal compartment4-6. Among posterior mediastinal neurogenic tumors, schwannoma is the most common.…”