A Dumbbell-shaped Thoraco-lumbar Extradural Ganglioneuroma: Case Report

ABSTRACT

Ganglioneuromas commonly arise from sympathetic ganglia. These neoplasm may be located wherever ganglion cells are normally found from skull base to pelvis including adrenal gland. Ganglioneuromas in spinal cord are very rare. We report a case of dumbbell-shaped extradural spinal ganglioneuroma. A 7-year-old boy was admitted to our hospital with a 20 day-history of both leg pain and a 10 day-history of progressive paraparesis. On magnetic resonance image, there was a dumbbell-shaped extradural spinal cord tumor in T11-L4 level. Two stage operation(First Laminoplastic laminotomy of T11-L4 to remove the extradural portion of the tumor in the spinal canal, Second Right retroperitoneal approach for the removal of paraspinal tumor located in L2-3 level) was performed. Pathologic diagnosis was a ganglioneuroma and paraparesis improved postoperatively.