Retro-peritoneal extra-adrenal ganglioneuroma encasing major blood vessels

ABSTRACT

Ganglioneuroma is a rare, benign, slow-growing asymptomatic tumor of the neural crest cells. It occurs in one per million population with female predominance. It most commonly occurs in the retro=peritoneum. Although CT scan and other imaging modalities can be used, its diagnosis is essentially based on histopathology. We report a case of 18 year old male who presented with abdominal pain and a mass in the left lumbar quadrant. CT scan abdomen showed a retroperitoneal mass encasing aorta, IVC and left common iliac artery. A diagnosis of Ganglioneuroma was established on ultrasound guided Trucut biopsy. He underwent laparotomy for total excision of mass. Per-operatively the mass was separated from the vital structures and the major blood vessels. His post-operative course was uneventful and he was discharged on 7th post-operative day. His final histopathology confirmed the initial diagnosis of ganglioneuroma. Nonetheless, a possibility of ganglioneuroma should be kept under consideration in cases of all retroperitoneal extra-adrenal masses