Retropharyngeal Ganglioneuroma Presenting with Neck Stiffness: Report of a Case and Review of the Literature

Abstract

Retropharyngeal ganglioneuromas can occur in a wide age range of patients. Surgical excision via a cervical approach offers definitive therapy but maybe associated with an iatrogenic Horner's syndrome for which the patients should be counseled prior to operative intervention. Neck pain is an atypical symptom that needs to be worked up to rule out a communication with the spinal column prior to surgical removal. Patients must be counseled that atypical symptoms may not completely resolve with surgical treatment.

Retropharyngeal Ganglioneuroma: A Case Report

“…Retropharyngeal ganglioneuroma is a rare occurrence. Only three such cases in adults have been reported in the literature . Presenting symptoms are nonspecific, as seen in our case, and include hoarseness, dysphagia, dyspnea, and neck stiffness.…”

“…Common sites for these tumors include the paraspinal region of the retroperitoneum and posterior mediastinum . A retropharyngeal location is a rare occurrence, with only three such cases reported in the adult population …”

Ganglioneuroma of the retropharyngeal space in a patient with glottic cancer

“…Surgical excision is regarded as the treatment of choice for symptom-producing cervical ganglioneuromas 4. Despite being curative, resection will invariably cause iatrogenic Horner’s syndrome, as the sympathetic origin of these tumours would predict.…”

Ganglioneuroma of the neck: A case report

“…Ganglioneuromas (GNs) originate from primordial neural crest cells, which migrate from the mantle layer of the developing spinal cord to the symphatic ganglia, adrenal medulla and other sites [1]. They are benign tumors, having only mature neural elements.…”