Ganglioneuroblastoma in a newborn with multiple metastases: a case report

Eva Gauchan,Dilasma Ghartimagar,Prakash Sharma,Arnab Ghosh

doi:10.1186/s13256-017-1397-x

Eva Gauchan, Dilasma Ghartimagar + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/s13256-017-1397-x

Copy DOI

Abstract

BackgroundGanglioneuroblastoma is a tumor of peripheral neuroblastic tissue which occurs predominantly in the pediatric age group; it is a rare occurrence in the newborn period with only one case reported at birth to date.Case presentationWe report the case of a newborn male baby of Brahmin ethnicity from Nepal who presented with respiratory distress and blueberry muffin skin lesions after birth. A computed tomography scan showed a mass lesion in the posterior mediastinum, which was diagnosed as ganglioneuroblastoma on fine-needle aspiration cytology. He also had metastases to multiple sites including heart, lungs, skin and brain.ConclusionsGanglioneuroblastoma is a rare tumor in newborns. Any newborn presenting with respiratory distress associated with blueberry muffin skin lesions should be evaluated for neuroblastic tumor.

Highlights

Ganglioneuroblastoma is a tumor of peripheral neuroblastic tissue which occurs predominantly in the pediatric age group; it is a rare occurrence in the newborn period with only one case reported at birth to date
GNB is a rare tumor in the newborn period
In 1981, Adam et al reported a series of 80 cases all of which arose from the posterior mediastinum [2]

Summary

Background

Neuroblastic tumors fall third in line among the childhood cancers following leukemia and brain tumors. With an annual incidence of 7.6 per 1,000,000 population according to the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) Registry, they are the most common solid extracranial tumors in children [1]. Representing the two extremes of neuroblastic tumors are neuroblastomas (most malignant) and ganglioneuromas (most benign). GNBs can further be subclassified into two types, that is, nodular and intermixed. It occurs with equal frequency in both sexes and most cases present before 10 years of age, with only one case at birth reported by Adam et al [2]

Discussion

Conclusions