Ganglioneuroblastoma of the posterior mediastinum: a case report

• Main Authors: Bawany Samira A, Fatimi Saulat H, Ashfaq Awais
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2011-07-01
• Series: Journal of Medical Case Reports
• Online Access: http://www.jmedicalcasereports.com/content/5/1/322

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Ganglioneuroblastoma 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.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>To 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.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The 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.</p>