Case Report
Uncommon presentation of a huge intrathoracic ganglioneuroma in an 8-year-old child: a rare case report
Authors:
Chan Siang Kan ,
Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Sarawak Heart Centre, Ministry of Health, Kota Samarahan, Sarawak 94300, MY
About Chan Siang
MD, MRCS (Edin)
Tze Sen Chang,
Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Sarawak Heart Centre, Ministry of Health, Sarawak, MY
About Tze Sen
MD, MRCS (Ire)
Lu Jeat Cheong,
Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Sarawak Heart Centre, Ministry of Health, Sarawak, MY
About Lu Jeat
MD
Manisah Binti Mohd. Dzin,
Department of Pathology, Sarawak General Hospital, Kuching, Ministry of Health, Sarawak, MY
About Manisah Binti
MB Bch BAO (Ire), Dr (Path)
Saravanan Karupiah,
Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Sarawak Heart Centre, Ministry of Health, Sarawak, MY
About Saravanan
MMED (Surgery)
Yuan Hsun Jong,
Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Sarawak Heart Centre, Ministry of Health, Sarawak, MY
About Yuan Hsun
MBBS (Mal), FRCS (Ire), FRCS CTh (Malaysia)
Sing Yang Soon
Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Sarawak Heart Centre, Ministry of Health, Sarawak, MY
About Sing Yang
MBCHB (Edin), MRCS (Edin), FRCS CTh, CCT (UK)
Abstract
Ganglioneuroma (GN) is a rare benign neurogenic tumor which arises from the neural crest cells that represent the final maturation stage of neuroblasts. GN is commonly encountered in adolescent or young adult. Until now, only a few cases of intrathoracic GN were reported in pediatric patients, especially in below 10 years of age. We report here an 8-year-old boy, who first presented to primary care with symptoms of upper respiratory tract infection. Radiologic investigations revealed a giant posterior mediastinal mass extending from T4 to T9 vertebrae without evidence of vascular invasion or infiltration into adjacent structures. The patient subsequently underwent left thoracotomy and resection of mass under general anesthesia. He was discharged 3 days after operation without complication. Histopathologic examination confirmed the diagnosis of thoracic GN. Grades of the neuroblastic differentiation increase with the median age at diagnosis. Although GNs are usually benign, they can grow aggressively and cause compression to an adjacent structure. Therefore, surgical resection is the only treatment. Debulking of tumor provides an alternative solution, especially when vital structures are involved. Complete resection remains the gold standard treatment for GN. However, in cases of incomplete resection, all residual tumors require regular clinical and radiodiagnostic follow-up.
How to Cite:
Kan CS, Chang TS, Cheong LJ, Mohd. Dzin MB, Karupiah S, Jong YH, et al.. Uncommon presentation of a huge intrathoracic ganglioneuroma in an 8-year-old child: a rare case report. International Journal of Surgery: Oncology. 2019;4(6):e80. DOI: http://doi.org/10.1097/IJ9.0000000000000080
Published on
15 Oct 2019.
Peer Reviewed
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