Opsoclonus mioclonus en lactante debido a ganglioneuroblastoma: reporte de caso y revisión de literatura / Opsoclonus myoclonus due to ganglioneuroblastoma: case report and literature review

El síndrome de Opsoclonus mioclonus ataxia (SOMA) es una entidad infrecuente en niños, caracterizada por Opsoclonus, mioclonías / ataxia y alteraciones de conducta o de sueño. En la actualidad representa una gran morbilidad dada su naturaleza paraneoplásica y autoinmune; destaca su asociación frecuente con tumores neuroblásticos y su tendencia hacia la cronicidad, recaídas y secuelas en el neurodesarrollo. Se revisa el caso de lactante de 13 meses, uno de los casos reportados a más temprana edad en Colombia, cuyo motivo de consulta fue irritabilidad, temblor distal, opsoclonía, con pruebas negativas para neuroinfección. Posteriormente a estudios se describieron dos masas en ápice torácico izquierdo, una de ellas entre carótida interna y yugular externa. La masa más grande fue de manejo quirúrgico; la patología reportó ganglioneuroblastoma de patrón nodular. No se logró resección quirúrgica completa y tuvo recaída de síntomas; como complicación posquirúrgica se presentó síndrome de Horner incompleto. Al tener difícil acceso quirúrgico se optó por manejo con poliquimioterapia protocolo de riesgo intermedio del COG (Children Oncology Group), que recibió por un año con resolución completa del cuadro clínico. Se presenta el caso de lactante con SOMA de difícil manejo, en el cual el abordaje quirúrgico falló y se requirió terapia complementaria. La quimioterapia se convierte en una opción de manejo cuando la resección quirúrgica no sea completa.

SUMMARY The opsoclonus myoclonus ataxia syndrome (OMA) is an infrequent entity in children, characterized opsoclonus, myoclonus/ataxia, sleep pattern or behavioral alterations. It represents great morbidity given its paraneoplastic and autoimmune nature; it is frequently associated with neuroblastic tumors and its tendency towards chronicity, relapses and neurodevelopmental sequels. We examine the case of a previously healthy thirteen months toddler, one of the earliest age reported cases in Colombia, who consulted for irritability, distal tremor, opsoclonus, and had negative neuroinfection tests. It was reported, after additional studies, the presence of 2 masses in the left pulmonary apex; one of them between the internal carotid artery and the external jugular vein. The bigger mass was surgically removed; pathology reported a ganglioneuroblastoma with nodular pattern. It was not possible to make full surgical resection and the patient experienced a relapse; as a postsurgical complication the patient had transient incomplete Horner syndrome. Due to difficult surgical access, chemotherapy was used for a whole year following the intermediate risk protocol developed by the COG (Children Oncology Group) with full resolution of the symptoms. We present the case of a toddler with difficult surgical approach where the surgical treatment failed, and complementary chemotherapy was needed. Chemotherapy turns into a therapeuthic option when surgical resection is not complete.

Ganglioneuroblastoma nodular quístico: Presentación de un caso / Cystic Nodular Ganglioneuroblastoma: Case Report

Presentamos el caso de un niño de 9 años de edad, en quien como hallazgo incidental en una radiografía de tórax se observa una calcificación en el hipocondrio izquierdo sugestiva de masa. Se amplía el estudio mediante ecografía y resonancia magnética (RM) abdominal para mejor caracterización: se visualiza una masa suprarrenal izquierda, predominantemente quística, con un nódulo sólido. Finalmente, se le practica una resección quirúrgica, en la cual se llega al diagnóstico de ganglioneuroblastoma nodular quístico, tras el análisis histopatológico. El ganglioneuroblastoma quístico es un tumor poco frecuente, originado en las células ganglionares del sistema nervioso simpático. El sitio de origen más frecuente son las glándulas suprarrenales. A pesar de que el diagnóstico definitivo se suele realizar tras la resección quirúrgica del tumor, con la ecografía y la RM se debe incluir entre los diagnósticos diferenciales de incidentalomas suprarrenales en un niño o un paciente joven. Los hallazgos en tomografía computarizada son variables.

We present the case of a child patient aged 9 years, in whom, as an incidental finding in chest X-rays, a calcified lesion was observed in the left hypochondrium. The study is extended by ultrasound and then MRI was performed to better characterize it. These showed a left adrenal, predominantly cystic mass with a solid nodule. The surgical team decided to perform resection of the mass and submit it for histopathological examination. A definitive diagnosis of cystic nodular ganglioneuroblastoma was made. Ganglioneuroblastoma is a rare tumour, originating in ganglion cells of the sympathetic nervous system. The site of more frequent origin is in the adrenal glands. Although the majority are diagnosed based on the postoperative histological analysis, with ultrasound and MRI we should include it among the differentials diagnoses of adrenal incidentalomas in a child or young patient. The findings on CT are variables.

Diarrea crónica como manifestación inicial de un ganglioneuroblastoma / Chronic diarrhea as the initial manifestation of a ganglioneuroblastoma

Resumen: El neuroblastoma es un tumor maligno del sistema nervioso simpático periférico con presentación y curso clínico heterogéneo. Es el tercer tumor pediátrico más frecuente y el 90% de los casos se diagnostica antes de los 5 años. Los síntomas más comunes se deben a la compresión por la masa tumoral o al dolor óseo causado por la metástasis. La diarrea como síntoma principal es rara por lo que es difícil de diagnosticar en la etapa temprana de la enfermedad. Se presenta el caso clínico de una paciente de 2 años en la que luego de 8 meses de estudio por diarrea crónica se diagnóstica ganglioneuroblastoma secretor de VIP. Se debe plantear como diagnóstico diferencial en los pacientes menores de 3 años con diarrea crónica intratable luego de haber descartado otras etiologías.

Summary: Neuroblastoma is a malignant tumor of the peripheral sympathetic nervous system with heterogeneous clinical presentation and course. It is the third most frequent pediatric tumor and in 90% of cases it is diagnosed before 5 years of age. The most typical symptoms result from the tumor compression or bone pain caused by methastasis. Diarrhea as the main symptom is unusual, and thus it is hard to diagnose in early stages of the disease. We report the case of a 2-year-old patient who, after 8 months of study for chronic diarrhea was diagnosed with VIP-secreting ganglioneuroblastoma. It is necessary for this condition to be considered as a differential diagnosis in patients younger than 3 years old with chronic diarrhea with no evolution, after other etiologies are ruled out.

A Malignant Transformation of a Spinal Epidural Mass from Ganglioneuroblastoma to Neuroblastoma

Ganglioneuromas are benign tumors. Surgical excision is the treatment of choice with very good prognosis. However, neuroblastomatous malignant transformation of ganglioneuromas was previously reported. We report a patient with spinal neuroblastoma recurrent from a ganglioneuroblastoma after disease free survival of 13 years. This is one of the rare examples of spinal neuroblastoma and to our knowledge the second case report with malignant transformation from a ganglioneuroblastoma or a ganglioneuroma. The present case is the only report in the literature with further genetic investigations.

Onset of adrenal ganglioneuroblastoma in an adult after delivery

A case of adrenal ganglioneuroblastoma is presented here. This adrenal ganglioneuroblastoma was found in a 27-year-old female 7 months after delivery. CT clarified that the tumor originated retroperitoneally and was large in size (11.4 cm x 9.4 cm). The tumor was surgically removed together with pancreatic body and tail, left kidney and spleen, and pathological diagnosis was adrenal ganglioneuroblastoma-intermixed. Adrenal ganglioneuroblastoma is extremely rare in adults, with only about 9 cases documented including this case.

Molecular genetic abnormalities of N-myc and C-myc in pediatric neuroblastic tumors and clinical pathologic significance / 中华病理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the molecular genetic abnormalities of N-myc and C-myc, and their clinical pathological implications in pediatric neuroblastic tumors (NTs).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Abnormalities of N-myc were detected by interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) technique in 246 cases of NTs, including neuroblastoma (NB,188 cases), ganglioneuroblastoma (GNB, 52 cases), ganglioneuroma (GN, 6 cases), and their association with the histological typing of the tumors and prognosis was analyzed. Abnormalities of C-myc were detected by FISH in 133 cases of NTs.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Of the 246 cases of NTs, N-myc amplification was only found in 27 cases (11.0%, 27/246) of NB, but not in any cases of GNB or GN (P < 0.05). 89.0% (219/246) N-myc non-amplification were found in NTs, and it included N-myc gain in 175 cases (71.1%, 175/246) and normal N-myc in 44 cases (17.9%, 44/246). Univariate analysis indicated significantly (P = 0.012) poorer outcome in patients with N-myc amplification than N-myc non-amplification. However no significant difference was observed between N-myc gain cases and normal N-myc cases (P = 0.057). C-myc gain was found in 74 of 133 cases (55.6%) of NTs; no C-myc amplification or translocation was detected. Forty percent (6/15) of cases with N-myc amplification and 57.6% (68/118) of cases with N-myc non-amplification were accompanied by C-myc gain. The difference between N-myc amplification and non-amplification with C-myc gain was not significant (P > 0.05). Univariate analysis indicated that the outcome difference was not statistically significant between C-myc gain cases and normal C-myc cases (P = 0.357).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The incidence of N-myc amplification only found in NB is low in pediatric NTs in China. Patients with N-myc amplification predict poorer outcome. No amplification or translocation of C-myc is detected in NTs, whereas C-myc gain is relatively common in NTs. There is no obvious association between N-myc amplification and C-myc gain.</p>

Clinicopathologic features of peripheral neuroblastic tumors / 中华病理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the clinicopathologic characteristics of peripheral neuroblastic tumors and to evaluate the prognostic significance of these features.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The clinical and pathologic findings were retrospectively reviewed in 121 cases of peripheral neuroblastic tumor. The clinical outcomes of patients were evaluated. The three-year event-free survival rate was analyzed, with respect to age of patients, Evan's staging, International Neuroblastoma Pathology Classification and mitosis-karyorrhexis index.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The median age at diagnosis was 2.7 years; and 96 cases (79.3%) occurred in patients younger than 5 years old. The number of cases in Evan's staging I, II, III, IV and IVs was 24, 39, 24, 29 and 5, respectively. There were 82 cases of neuroblastoma (NB) (including 2 cases of undifferentiated NB, 52 cases of poorly differentiated NB and 28 cases of differentiating NB), 9 cases of ganglioneuroblastoma, intermixed type (GNBi), 19 cases of ganglioneuroma, maturing type (GN) and 11 cases of ganglioneuroblastoma, nodular type (GNBn). Forty-nine cases were in the favorable histology subgroup and 72 cases in the unfavorable histology subgroup. The overall three-year event-free survival rate of the 121 cases was 73.0% ± 4.3%. The three-year event-free survival rates were associated with age (P = 0.002), Evan's staging (P = 0.000), histologic category (P = 0.000), mitosis-karyorrhexis index (P = 0.043), prognostic subgroup (P = 0.000).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Most of the peripheral neuroblastic tumors occur in the children younger than 5 years old. It is composed of NB, GNBi, GN and GNBn. The three-year event-free survival rate is approximately 70%. Significant prognostic parameters include age of patients, Evan's staging, International Neuroblastoma Pathology Classification and mitosis-karyorrhexis index.</p>

Primary intraspinal ganglioneuroblastoma of the thoracic spine: A rare case report.

Cerebral ganglioneuroblastoma is an embryonal tumor of the central nervous system, which has been rarely encountered into the spinal cord. The standard treatment for ganglioneuroblastoma is complete surgical excision. A 15-year old boy was presented with cord compression. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed an intradural and intramedullar enhancing lesion over T2 spine. A histomorphological diagnosis was made in the presence of immature small round cells admixed with a good number of ganglion cells. The morphological diagnosis was verified by immunohistochemistry. This is the first reported case of compressive myelopathy in the thoracic region of the spine.

Extra-adrenal retroperitoneal ganglioneuroma

Ganglioneuromas are benign tumors that originate from primordial neural crest cells. We report a retroperitoneal ganglioneuroma arising from the left paraspinal region. A twenty-year old woman presented with left lumbar pain. Neurological workup was normal. Imaging revealed a left paraspinal retroperitoneal mass measuring 9.74 x 6.19 x 4.30 centimeters. Complete surgical removal was uneventful. During follow-up, left lumbar pain improved and imaging showed no evidence of the disease

Ganglioneuroblastoma sacro / Sacral ganglioneuroblastoma

Se presentó un caso raro de ganglioneuroblastoma sacro en un paciente de 32 años de edad, con evolución tórpida. Se presentan datos clínicos, estudios imaginológicos e histológicos. Se realiza revisión del tema

This is a uncommon case of sacral ganglioneuroblastoma in a patient aged 32 with a torpid evolution. Clinical data, imaging and histological studies are showed. A review of this subject is carried out

Correlation between typing of peripheral neuroblastic tumors and prognosis: a clinicopathologic study of 135 cases / 中华病理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the clinicopathologic characteristics of peripheral neuroblastic tumors and to investigate the prognostic significance of International Neuroblastoma Pathology Classification (INPC).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred and thirty-five cases of peripheral neuroblastic tumors encountered in Shanghai Children's Medical Center were enrolled into the study. All the cases were classified according to INPC and International Neuroblastoma Staging System (INSS). The follow-up data were analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The consensus diagnoses of the 135 cases were as follows: 80 cases (59.2%) of neuroblastoma, 24 cases (17.8%) of ganglioneuroblastoma, intermixed, 17 cases (12.6%) of ganglioneuroma and 14 cases (10.4%) of ganglioneuroblastoma, nodular. The cases were subdivided into 2 subgroups: favorable histology (number = 90, 66.7%) and unfavorable histology (number = 45, 33.3%). According to INSS, the number of cases in stages I, II, III and IV was 22 (16.3%), 24 (17.8%), 34 (25.2%) and 55 (40.7%), respectively. The survival of peripheral neuroblastic tumors correlated with histologic diagnosis, INPC and INSS (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Diagnostic categorization of peripheral neuroblastic tumors according to INPC is of prognostic value.</p>

Mediastinal ganglioneuroblastoma-secreting vasoactive intestinal peptide causing secretory diarrhea

In this case report we describe a case of mediastinal ganglioneuroblastoma-secreting vasoactive intestinal peptide [VIP], causing secretory diarrhoea in an 18-month-old child. An 18-month-old girl presented with a 2-month history of diarrhoea, abdominal distension and weight loss. Investigations revealed secretory diarrhoea with hypokalaemia, hyponatraemia and hypochloraemia and metabolic acidosis. Her stool output was 2.5-3.1 day[-1] with increased stool sodium. VIP levels were strikingly high with normal glucagon and gastrin levels. X-ray of the chest revealed a well-defined mass in the right upper zone with tracheal shift, which was confirmed with computed tomography [CT] of the chest. The mass was resected and the patient became asymptomatic. This case shows that secretory diarrhoea caused by VIP and produced by ganglioneuroblastoma indicates a favourable prognosis, provided it is resectable

Neo-Adjuvant Chemotherapy Followed by Surgery for Extensive Calvarial Metastases of a Neuroblastoma

Neuroblastoma is a common tumor of children. We report a patient with extensive calvarial metastases of a neuroblastoma as an initial presentation. A 2-year-old girl presented with a history of gradually increasing head size and fever. A brain CT showed a multilobulated, large, extra-axial tumor involving both frontotemporoparietal areas with a sunray-spiculated hyperostosis of the skull and marked contrast enhancement. A brain MRI demonstrated extensive calvarial lesions with simultaneous involvement of the orbits. A biopsy was performed and a ganglioneuroblastoma was diagnosed. On systemic evaluation, an enlarged abdominal mass was detected. After neo-adjuvant chemotherapy, most of the tumors disappeared except for a tumor in the left parietal area; there was a corresponding decrease in the circumference of the head. We performed surgery for the remnant mass. Intensive chemotherapy was administered and a bone marrow transplantation was performed. Adequate neo-adjuvant chemotherapy followed by surgery to the neuroblatoma with extensive metastases to the skull and orbit may be helpful.

Ganglioneuroblastoma Associated with Malignant Hypertension and Cardiac Failure

Neuroblastoma is the most common extracranial solid tumor in children, and accompanies various clinical symptoms including hypertension. Hypertension is associated with catecholamines secreted from the tumor, and is usually not severe. We report one case of malignant hypertension with cardiac failure in a patient with adrenal neuroblastoma, successfully treated with adrenalectomy. A 3 year-old boy complained of protrusion of the chest wall. Physical examination revealed severe hypertension with cardiac failure. The levels of metabolites of catecholamine were increased in blood (norepinephrine >2000 pg/mL) and urine (norepinephrine 1350.5 ug/day). Abdominal CT showed a 7 cm-sized solid mass arising from the right adrenal gland. After stabilizing the hemodynamics with oral phenoxybenzamine, right adrenalectomy was performed. Pathological diagnosis was a ganglioneuroblastoma. The hypertension and cardiac failure were resolved after tumor removal.

Tumor neuroblástico en el niño / Neuroblastic tumor in children

Los tumores neuroblásticos son tumores del sistema nervioso periférico. Algunos inmaduros como el neuroblastoma tienen comportamiento muy agresivo, mientras otros como el ganglioneuroma son considerados benignos. Por su variada sintomatología, al neuroblastoma se le denomina "el gran simulador" y es caracterizado como enigmático. El dolor es la principal manifestación, así como también la distensión abdominal y la palpación de una masa abdominal.

Ganglioneuroblastoma in a Patient with Crossed Testicular Ectopia / 대한비뇨기과학회지

Crossed testicular ectopia is a rare anomaly, in which both testes migrate toward the same hemiscrotum. Fewer than 100 cases of this condition have been reported in the literature worldwide. Occasionally, conditions initially suspected to be crossed testicular ectopia have proven to be other anomalies, including hypospadias, renal agenesis, and seminal vesicle cysts. In this case, we diagnosed ganglioneuroblastoma in a patient with testicular ectopia.

Ganglioneuroblastoma of the cerebellum: neuroimaging and pathological features of a case

OBJECTIVE: To report a case of ganglioneuroblastoma of cerebellum, with emphasis to the neuroimaging and pathological findings. CASE REPORT: A one year and eight-month-old girl presented with a two-month history of hypoactivity and tremor in the legs. The MRI showed an enhancing cerebellar mass hypointense on T1 and hyperintense on T2-weighted images. The patient underwent a craniotomy with resection of the lesion. The histological and immunohistochemical studies defined the diagnosis of ganglioneuroblastoma. CONCLUSION: The MRI findings of our case showed no features which could help in the differentiation between ganglioneuroblastoma and the other common types of posterior fossa neoplasms in the pediatric population.

OBJETIVO: Relatar um caso de ganglioneuroblastoma no cerebelo, com ênfase aos achados de imagem e patologia. RELATO DO CASO: Paciente feminino de um ano e oito meses apresentou-se com hipoatividade e tremor nas pernas há dois meses. A RM demonstrou uma massa cerebelar hipercaptante, com hipossinal em T1 e hipersinal em T2. A paciente foi submetida a craniotomia com ressecção da lesão. Os exames histológicos e imuno-histoquímicos definiram o diagnóstico de ganglioneuroblastoma. CONCLUSÃO: Os achados de RM deste caso não demonstraram padrões que pudessem auxiliar na diferenciação entre ganglioneuroblastoma e os demais tumores que comumente acometem a fossa posterior de crianças.

Unusual expression and molecular mechanisms of E-cadherin, beta-catenin in correlation with clinicopathologic parameters in neuroblastoma / 中华病理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the expression of E-cadherin and beta-catenin in neuroblastomas of various degrees of differentiation, and to investigate their molecular mechanisms in correlation with clinicopathologic parameters.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Immunohistochemistry EnVision method was used to detect E-cadherin and beta-catenin expression in 90 paraffin-embedded tissue samples of neuroblastomas. The methylation status of CpG islands of E-cadherin promoter was investigated by MSP in 7 fresh tissue and 24 paraffin-embedded tissue samples. The mutation status of exon 3 of beta-catenin gene was studied by PCR in 7 fresh tissue samples. Statistical analysis of the data was performed by SPSS software.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>E-cadherin and beta-catenin were abnormally expressed in neuroblastomas in general. The expression of beta-catenin in well-differentiated neuroblastoms was markedly higher (47/70, 67.1%) than that of the poorly differentiated tumors (8/20, 40.0%). There was a markedly decreased expression of both genes in tumors with lymph node metastasis than those without. Demethylation was seen in some regions of the promoter of E-cadherin in 31 cases of nuroblatomas. PCR of the exon 3 of beta-catenin followed by DNA sequencing demonstrated rearrangements and mutations in 7 cases, including 2 cases harboring identical point mutation at gene position 27184, leading to a T-->A alteration.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The abnormal over-expression of E-cadherin in neuroblastomas is independent of the methylation status of their promoter sequences. The abnormal expression of beta-catenin may be related to mutational changes at exon 3 of the gene.</p>