Dumbbell Ganglioneuroma Research Articles

Adjacent cervical ganglioneuromas

Abstract Ganglioneuroma is a rare benign neurogenic tumor. It presents as a solitary, painless and slow-growing mass. Dumbbell ganglioneuroma in the cervical region is extremely rare. The reported incidence of ganglioneuroma is one per million populations. We describe a new case of dumbbell cervical ganglioneuroma and review the literature for relevant data.

Case report of a ganglioneuroma with metaplasia by adipocytes: use of a multi-disciplinary team as a key aid in difficult diagnosis and combined surgery

Herein, we present a rare case of a dumb-bell ganglioneuroma (GN) with metaplasia by adipocytes that was surgically resected in a 24-year-old woman who was asymptomatic. Because of the difficult diagnosis with no consensus about the location of the tumor, diagnostic and surgical procedures were performed with the assistance of a multi-disciplinary team (MDT) and the use of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). After conventional thoracotomy, histopathological and immunohistochemical examinations revealed that the tumor consisted of spindle cells, ganglion cells, and adipose cells. The histopathological diagnosis was GN with metaplasia by adipocytes. The tumor was resected, and the patient had no postoperative complications during a 3-year follow-up. For tumors whose location cannot be confirmed in the posterior mediastinum or in the retroperitoneum, VATS is an effective confirmatory tool. The recruitment of a MDT can be invaluable for formulating and providing treatment options for the patient.

Case report of a ganglioneuroma with metaplasia by adipocytes: use of a multi-disciplinary team as a key aid in difficult diagnosis and combined surgery

: Herein, we present a rare case of a dumb-bell ganglioneuroma (GN) with metaplasia by adipocytes that was surgically resected in a 24-year-old woman who was asymptomatic. Because of the difficult diagnosis with no consensus about the location of the tumor, diagnostic and surgical procedures were performed with the assistance of a multi-disciplinary team (MDT) and the use of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). After conventional thoracotomy, histopathological and immunohistochemical examinations revealed that the tumor consisted of spindle cells, ganglion cells, and adipose cells. The histopathological diagnosis was GN with metaplasia by adipocytes. The tumor was resected, and the patient had no postoperative complications during a 3-year follow-up. For tumors whose location cannot be confirmed in the posterior mediastinum or in the retroperitoneum, VATS is an effective confirmatory tool. The recruitment of a MDT can be invaluable for formulating and providing treatment options for the patient.

Single stage complete resection of giant dumbbell lumbar ganglioneuroma: a case report and review of the literature

Ganglioneuroma is a rare benign tumor, which is usually located in the posterior mediastinum and retroperitoneum. Occasionally, it involves the paraspinal region with intraspinal extension and becomes dumbbell shaped. Dumbbell ganglioneuromas rarely affect the lumbar spine, and only nine cases of dumbbell lumbar ganglioneuromas have been reported previously. We are reporting an extremely rare case of a giant dumbbell tumor in the lumbar spine. We performed a one stage total resection of the tumor with posterior approach and long-segment fixation and fusion. This approach is different from previous methods. Histopathological examination of the surgical specimen confirmed the diagnosis of ganglioneuroma. Thirty months follow up showed a satisfactory outcome. Single-stage posterior tumor resection with fixation and fusion is effective and an appropriate choice for the treatments of lumbar dumbbell ganglioneuromas.

Cervical Symmetric Dumbbell Ganglioneuromas Causing Severe Paresis

We report an extremely rare case with bilateral and symmetric dumbbell ganglioneuromas of the cervical spine in an elderly patient. A 72-year-old man came by ambulance to our hospital due to progressive incomplete paraplegia. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated bilateral symmetric dumbbell tumors at the C1/2 level. We performed total resection of the intracanalar tumor, aiming at complete decompression of the spinal cord, and partial and subtotal resection of foraminal outside portions. Histopathological examination of the surgical specimen indicated the tumor cells to be spindle cells with the presence of ganglion cells and no cellular pleomorphism, suggesting a diagnosis of ganglioneuroma. Although the surgery was not curative, the postoperative course was uneventful and provided a satisfactory outcome. This is the fourth known case of cervical ganglioneuromas of the bilateral symmetric dumbbell type.

Bilateral and symmetric C1–C2 dumbbell ganglioneuromas associated with neurofibromatosis type 1 causing severe spinal cord compression

Background Context Ganglioneuromas are rarely located in the cervical region compressing the spinal cord. Only two cases of bilateral and symmetric dumbbell tumor have been reported previously. Purpose The purpose of the study was to present an additional case with bilateral and symmetric dumbbell ganglioneuromas of the cervical spine as part of multiple ganglioneuromas of the spine in a patient with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF-1). Study Design The study design was a case report. Methods A 15-year-old boy with NF-1 presented with a 6-month history of progressive tetraparesis. Magnetic resonance imaging showed voluminous bilateral and symmetric dumbbell masses at the C1–C2 level severely compressing the spinal cord. The spinal cord was also indented by a dumbbell mass at the left C3–C4 level. A systemic imaging survey of the patient showed numerous asymptomatic foraminal and extraforaminal tumors at all neuroforamina of the spine. Results The result was found to be surgical decompression of the spinal cord by subtotal resections of bilateral tumors at the C1–C2 level and unilateral tumor at the left C3–C4 level alleviated patient symptoms. Histopathological diagnosis was ganglioneuroma for all resected tumors. Conclusion Multiple ganglioneuromas, particularly bilateral and symmetric dumbbell tumors, are extremely rare but could be associated with NF-1.

Multi-level dumbbell ganglioneuroma extending into the spinal canal from T11 to L4

Kaneyama, Shuichi; Doita, Minoru; Nishida, Kotaro; Maeno, Koichiro; Kurosaka, Masahiro Author Information

Posterior mediastinal dumbbell ganglioneuroma with fatty replacement

We report a case of a posterior mediastinal dumbbell ganglioneuroma with fatty replacement on CT and MRI. Most dumbbell tumours are neurogenic in origin. Fatty replacement of non-lipomatous malignancies is rare. This report suggests that a ganglioneuroma with fatty replacement should be added to the differential diagnosis of fat-containing posterior mediastinal tumours.

Symmetric dumbbell ganglioneuromas of bilateral C2 and C3 roots with intradural extension associated with von Recklinghausen's disease: case report

Background Ganglioneuromas are rare benign tumors arising most commonly from the sympathetic nervous system. They occasionally grow in a dumbbell fashion extending into the spinal canal extradurally. However, ganglioneuromas of the cervical spine with intradural extension or multiple locations or in association with von Recklinghausen's disease are rare. Case description A 35-year-old man with von Recklinghausen's disease presented with tetraparesis and respiratory dysfunction. Preoperative neuroimaging revealed an intradural mass extending from the foramen magnum to the C4 vertebral level, as well as bilateral extravertebral extension connecting it with bilateral paraspinal lesions in a dumbbell fashion. Four intradural tumors associated with the bilateral C2 and C3 nerves and located ventrally were removed, leaving the intraforaminal and extradural portion intact. The procedure resulted in postoperative symptomatic improvement. Second, extravertebral tumors of the left neck, which were not related to the cervical sympathetic nerve, were removed. The pathologic diagnosis of the tumors of both the intradural space and cervical neck was ganglioneuroma. Conclusion We present an extremely rare case in an adult with von Recklinghausen's disease who had bilateral, symmetric and multiple dumbbell ganglioneuromas with intradural extension, and also multiple bilateral ganglioneuromas at the neck. The intradural ganglioneuromas were suspected to have originated from the posterior root ganglions of the bilateral C2 and C3 nerves and to have extended ventrally to the spinal cord involving not only sensory but also motor rootlets; the ganglioneuroma of the neck was suspected to have originated from the cervical nerve itself.

Case report: Painless thoracic scoliosis due to dumb-bell ganglioneuroma — CT and MRI appearances

We report a case of a child with a painless progressive scoliosis, initially diagnosed as idiopathic, who was demonstrated on computed tomography and magnetic resonance to have an extensive dumb-bell tumour of the thoracic spine, subsequently shown to be a ganglioneuroma.

Dumbbell ganglioneuroma of the lumbar spine associated with a herniated intervertebral disc

Dumbbell ganglioneuroma of the lumbar spine associated with a herniated intervertebral disc