Case report: Large adrenal ganglioneuroma

A Sizeable Adrenal Ganglioneuroma: A Case Report

Adrenal ganglioneuromas are mostly asymptomatic, although they may manifest with compressive local effects. We present a 27-year-old man with no medical history who was referred to the surgical oncology clinic due to the incidental finding of a left adrenal mass. The initial computed tomography (CT) abdomen revealed a large mass causing displacement of adjacent organs. A CT-guided biopsy was inconclusive, and further evaluation with an NM endo-adrenal (MIBG) medullary scan pointed to a possible diagnosis of pheochromocytoma. Laboratory tests showed normal levels of urinary metanephrine and normetanephrine. The patient's history revealed chronic abdominal pain, with no symptoms of hypertension, headache, palpitations, or sweating. Subsequently, the patient underwent a left adrenalectomy without complications. This case underscores the importance of a comprehensive approach in managing adrenal masses, particularly when dealing with non-specific symptoms, emphasizing the importance of timely diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

Computed tomography characteristics of adrenal ganglioneuroma: a retrospective analysis of 30 pathologically-confirmed cases

Objective

To investigate the computed tomography (CT) characteristics of adrenal ganglioneuromas (AGNs) and to determine the ability of CT scanning to distinguish between large (>3 cm) and small (≤3 cm) AGNs.

Methods

This retrospective study searched the electronic medical record system of a hospital between January 2008 and July 2019 in order to identify patients with pathologically-confirmed AGNs that underwent three phases of CT scanning. The CT features were compared between large and small AGNs.

Results

A total of 30 patients with pathologically-confirmed AGNs were included in the study. The majority of patients (76.7%; 23 of 30) were asymptomatic and there were nonspecific symptoms in seven patients. The ‘pointed peach’ sign appeared in more than half of the patients (53.3%; 16 of 30). The CT value of the arterial phase, progressive enhancement, morphology and calcification in the CT images were found to be significantly different between large and small AGNs. Progressive enhancement was more likely to occur in small AGNs. Most large AGNs had irregular shapes, while small AGNs were likely to be round or oval with a smooth border. Calcifications were noted in large AGNs (42.9%; six of 14).

Conclusion

CT scanning can show many of the key imaging characteristics of AGNs used to distinguish between large and small AGNs.

Adrenal ganglioneuroma: The Padua Endocrine Surgery Unit experience

BACKGROUND

Adrenal ganglioneuroma (AGN) is a rare tumor that originates from the gangliar cells of the sympathetic nervous system. It represents less than 5% of all adrenal masses. AGN occurs as a large mass, with benign behavior and no relevant symptoms and hormonal secretion, but it is often misdiagnosed because the preoperative radiological diagnosis is generally challenging. The aim of the present paper is to report the experience of a tertiary referral academic center regarding the management of AGN and review the relevant literature.

METHODS

The demographic, diagnostic, surgical, and pathological findings of 666 consecutive patients who were adrenalectomized at the Padua Endocrine Surgery Unit between 1990 and 2015 were retrospectively reviewed in order to focus on AGN.

RESULTS

The pathology confirmed AGN in 10 patients (1.5% of cases; median age 35 years, range 19-73). The diagnosis was incidental and never available before surgery. Eight patients were asymptomatic, two presented lower back and abdominal pain. The mass was non-secreting in all cases. Preoperative imaging techniques were inconclusive about the nature of the mass in all cases. The median size of the tumor was 55 mm (range 30-80). The laparoscopic approach was performed in 60% of cases. No recurrences occurred after surgery at a median follow-up of 10 years (range 1.7-18.2).

CONCLUSION

The diagnosis of AGN may be challenging and most often occurs after surgery, since it is frequently confirmed by histological examination. Radical excision may be achieved by laparoscopic adrenalectomy, with a subsequent definitive cure and excellent prognosis at long term follow up.

Laparoscopic Excision of an Adrenal Ganglioneuroma Presented as an Incindentaloma of the Retro Peritoneum

Adrenal ganglioneuroma (GN) is a benign tumor of retro-peritoneum that is presented as an incidentaloma. GNs most commonly have been diagnosed by imaging examinations notably by CT scan. Differential diagnosis from other malignant adrenal tumors is often difficult. The only examination that confirms diagnosis is only the histopathological one. Surgical excision of a GN has been proposed as the best solution for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. This case report is about a 68-year old male patient presenting with a non-typical abdominal pain. The imaging investigation showed an incidentaloma over 4cm at its large axis. The patient underwent laparoscopic excision of the tumor. We present the steps followed during the diagnosis the appropriate treatment and the follow up examinations as a result of this rare finding.

Incidental ganglioneuromas: a presentation of 14 surgical cases and literature review

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Ganglioneuromas are benign tumors which originate from the neural crest. This tumor affects mainly young patients rather than adult ones, and its most frequent localizations are mediastinum, retroperitoneum, adrenal glands and cervical region. Usually, ganglioneuromas are discovered as incidentalomas since they are often asymptomatic, even if they could present sympathetic or mass-related symptoms. To obtain a definitive diagnosis, histological exam is necessary since CT scan and MRI are not capable of distinguishing ganglioneuromas from other tumors, such as neuroblastomas or pheocromocytomas. The surgical excision is the chosen treatment and it offers an excellent prognosis.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective analysis of our cases of ganglioneuroma from 2004 to 2014; this study aims to compare our experience with literature review (2000-2014). Data about patients' features, tumor localization, symptoms, treatment and follow-up were analyzed and reported in detailed tables.

RESULTS

Between 2004 and 2014 we treated 14 patients affected by ganglioneuroma. For all of them the diagnosis was incidental; 9 out of 12 (64.3 %) patients presented an adrenal mass; in 2 patients (14.3 %) the tumor was localized in cervical region; in other 2 patients (14.3 %) the tumor was in the retroperitoneum and one patient (7.1 %) presented a ganglioneuroma in the costo-vertebral space. All our patients underwent surgical removal and none of them present surgery-related complications or recurrences to date.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data widen the knowledge about ganglioneuroma and confirm that the surgical approach has an excellent prognosis with very low incidence of surgery-related complications and recurrences.