Laparoscopic resection of primary adrenal ganglioneuroma: A case report and review of the literature

Primary Retroperitoneal Ganglioneuroma: A Retrospective Cohort Study of 32 Patients

Purpose: To investigate the clinical characteristics, diagnosis, differential diagnosis, therapy options, and outcomes of retroperitoneal ganglioneuroma.

Methods: In this retrospective study, we collected and analyzed the clinical data of 32 patients diagnosed with retroperitoneal ganglioneuroma and admitted to Peking Union Medical College Hospital from October 2012 to August 2019.

Results: Among our 32 cases with retroperitoneal ganglioneuroma, the male-to-female ratio was 1:3 and the mean age was 35. Only 25% of the cases presented with abdominal pain while more than 65% had no specific symptoms. The masses could be found through physical examination in only five patients. Most of the tumors are located near the renal area. They were usually single and displayed an embedded growth pattern with diameters <10 cm, clear borders, and soft texture. For radiological imaging, the majority of tumors demonstrated soft tissue density with mild-to-moderate enhancement on CT imaging and showed hypoecho with moderate blood flow signals in ultrasound. No significantly abnormal laboratory examinations were found in most patients. Of all the 32 patients, 2 chose surveillance after biopsy due to difficulties in operation, while others chose surgical resection. The mean follow-up time was 15.8 months among 26 patients. The tumor remained stable in the surveillance cases. Residual tumors were found in four cases receiving operations with no progress and discomfort. No recurrence was seen in all patients.

Conclusions: The retroperitoneal ganglioneuroma is a benign tumor without specific clinical manifestations or significant laboratory findings. Typically, it is shown as low density with a clear border and an embedded growth pattern in radiological imaging. The overall prognosis is good. Surgery is an effective approach with possible severe complications. Incomplete resection or surveillance can be considered for some cases where complete resection is difficult to achieve.

Dopamine secreting adrenal tumor-ganglioneuroma rather than pheochromocytoma: case report

Ganglioneuromas are rare, benign, well-differentiated neural crest tumors arising in the paravertebral sympathetic chain, and are classically non-secretory and clinically asymptomatic. As the diagnosis of ganglioneuroma is based on histopathology, the clinical presentation prior to surgical excision often mirrors that of pheochromocytoma or adrenal cortical adenoma. We describe a case of an incidentally found right sided calcified adrenal mass with evidence of marked dopamine excess, suspicious for pheochromocytoma in a 70-year-old female. The patient endorsed a 6-month history of intermittent right flank pain and a 2-year history of weight loss and fatigue. She reported mild symptoms of hypomania but denied other symptoms of dopamine excess including agitation, anxiety, nausea, and vomiting. Exam revealed isolated mild hypertension. The imaging features of this mass were concerning for malignancy including the presence of macrocalcification and irregular borders. After preoperative alpha blockade, the patient underwent open right adrenalectomy and the final pathology was consistent with ganglioneuroma rather than pheochromocytoma. Following resection, the dopamine level normalized, confirming the resected right adrenal ganglioneuroma as the source of dopamine excess. This case represents a rare presentation of dopamine-secreting adrenal ganglioneuroma. This illustrates that although rare, ganglioneuroma should be included on the differential diagnosis for functional adrenal tumors.

Endoscopic Management of Ganglioneuroma in the Stomach

Ganglioneuromas are rare benign tumors of neuroblastic origin that can occur anywhere along the sympathetic chain. They are rarely found in the gastrointestinal tract and can appear as solitary polypoid lesions or diffuse as part of a familial syndrome. They are often asymptomatic but may present with nonspecific symptoms depending on their anatomic location. They have no special endoscopic appearance and are diagnosed by histology and immunohistochemistry staining. We present a case of solitary gastric ganglioneuroma treated successfully with endoscopic resection.

Adrenal collision tumor: a case report of the coexistence of myelolipoma and ganglioneuroma

Adrenal collision tumor (ACT), where distinct tumors can coexist and do not intermingle in the same adrenal gland, is rarely reported and its cause and prevalence are unclear. Few papers have reported a connection between myelolipoma and adrenal ganglioneuroma. Case Report: A 40-year-old man had a physical examination one month prior to surgery. Physical examination as well as the laboratory data involving endocrine studies showed normal findings. MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) revealed a mixed signal lesion in the right suprarenal fossa. A laparoscopic left adrenalectomy was conducted. Pathologic examination revealed two distinct tumors: myelolipoma and ganglioneuroma. Conclusion: The two kinds of tumors are rarely seen in the adrenal gland and they exceptionally exist as ACT only. This case should arouse our attention in future clinical work.

Laparoscopic Extirpation of Adrenal Gland Ganglioneuroma Incidentally Diagnosed during Evaluation for Patchy Alopecia Areata in an Adolescent Boy

OBJECTIVE

We present a 17-year-old boy with an incidentally diagnosed left adrenal ganglioneuroma during the diagnostic workup of alopecia areata.

CLINICAL PRESENTATION AND INTERVENTION

Laboratory investigations revealed vitamin D deficiency. Laparoscopic adrenalectomy was performed and ganglioneuroma was confirmed histologically. At follow-up, the vitamin D supplements improved the vitamin D levels followed by a gradual regression of alopecia areata. However, it recurred 18 months later despite the normal levels of serum vitamin D and no tumor recurrence.

CONCLUSION

Further studies should reveal the relationship between alopecia areata and ganglioneuroma as well as the role of vitamin D in alopecia areata.

Adrenal collision tumor (parachordoma and ganglioneuroma): A case report

Adrenal collision tumors (ACTs) are distinct tumors that occur simultaneously in the same adrenal gland and are very rare. We herein report the case of a 56-year-old woman who was admitted to the hospital for medical imaging. The findings of the physical and laboratory examinations, including endocrine function, were unremarkable. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography of the abdomen revealed a 28×20×33-mm mass in the left adrenal medial limb, for which a laparoscopic surgery was performed. Postoperative pathological examination revealed two distinct tumors, namely a parachordoma and a ganglioneuroma. To the best of our knowledge, and following a thorough literature search, this is the first report of coexisting parachordoma and ganglioneuroma in the same adrenal gland.

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.

Clinicopathological Features of Ganglioneuroma Originating From the Adrenal Glands

BACKGROUND

Ganglioneuromas are benign tumors that rarely develop from adrenal glands. In this study, we present our clinical experience of patients with adrenal ganglioneuroma (AGN).

METHODS

Demographic, diagnostic, surgical, and pathologic findings of patients who were adrenalectomized as a result of AGN were retrospectively reviewed from the database of a tertiary referral hospital.

RESULTS

Among 1784 patients who underwent an adrenalectomy between 2002 and 2015, 35 (1.9 %; 14 males, 21 females) were diagnosed with AGN. Mean age was 33.4 ± 18.7 years (0-84). Twenty-nine (82.9 %) were asymptomatic, four (11.4 %) complained of abdominal discomfort, and two (5.7 %) had abdominal distension. Preoperative computed tomography (CT) reported AGN in 22 (62.9 %) cases. Precontrast Hounsfield units, increased postcontrast phase attenuation, and well-defined borders were characteristic CT features of AGN. Mean tumor size was 6.3 ± 3.3 cm (range, 1.5-16.0). No recurrence occurred during a median follow-up period of 19 months (range, 1-120).

CONCLUSION

AGN was asymptomatic in most cases and diagnosis may be challenging. Adrenalectomy is a safe treatment modality for AGN and ensures favorable outcomes when diagnosed.

A Case Report of Giant Adrenal Ganglioneuroma

Adrenal ganglioneuroma (AGN) is an extremely rare and benign entity comprising Schwann cells and ganglion cells. If the lesion approaches to 6 cm, laparoscopic resection is considered as relative contraindication. Now we present a giant adrenal AGN in a 25-year-old male patient. After abdominal computed tomography (CT) scanning, the patient underwent an exploratory laparotomy with right adrenalectomy and histopathological examination further confirmed the lesions as giant AGN, which measured 7 cm × 5 cm × 3.5 cm. Because giant AGN with lesion size greater than 6 cm should be treated by open surgery, it is significant to report the laparoscopic adrenalectomy in patients with large adrenal lesions.

Adrenal Collision Tumor: Coexistence of Pigmented Adrenal Cortical Oncocytoma and Ganglioneuroma

Background. Adrenal collision tumors (ACTs), in which distinct tumors coexist without intermingling in the same adrenal gland, are rare and their actual prevalence is unknown. ACTs commonly consist of adrenal cortical adenoma, pheochromocytoma, or metastatic malignant tumor. Case Report. A 32-year-old woman who had been experiencing gastric discomfort for one month was referred to our hospital with abnormal imaging findings. The physical examination and the laboratory data including endocrine studies were unremarkable. Abdomen computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed two adjacent masses in the left suprarenal fossa, and a laparoscopic left adrenalectomy was done. Histological and immunohistochemical (IHC) examinations revealed two distinct tumors: a pigmented adrenal cortical oncocytoma (ACO) and a ganglioneuroma, respectively. Conclusion. Both tumors are rare in the adrenal gland and exist as ACTs only exceptionally rarely. This is the first reported case of coexisting oncocytoma and ganglioneuroma in the same adrenal gland to our knowledge.