A case of giant ganglioneuroma

Ali Özdülger¹, Erhan Ayan¹, Oğuz Köksel¹, Adil Güleryüz², Menderes Erçil¹, Meltem Nuce Nass³, Murat Dikmengil⁴

¹Mersin Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi, Göğüs Cerrahisi Anabilim Dalı, Mersin
²Mersin Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi, Beyin Cerrahisi Anabilim Dalı, Mersin
³Mersin Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi, Radyoloji Anabilim Dalı, Mersin
⁴Mersin Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi, Kalp ve Damar Cerrahisi Anabilim Dalı, Mersin

Ganglioneuromas are rare, slow-growing, benign, neurogenic tumors that arise primarily from sympathetic ganglion cells and, less frequently, from the adrenal medulla, sympathetic and peripheral nerves. A 24-year-old woman presented with dyspnea and hemoptysis. Radiologic examination demonstrated a giant mediastinal mass in the left hemithorax. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed a mass occupying nearly all of the left hemithorax, pushing the mediastinal structures to the right. Vascular structures were also noted inside the mass. The diagnosis was made as ganglioneuroma following transthoracic fine needle aspiration biopsy. At surgery, a neurosurgery team first detached the tumor from the spinal cord through a a posterior approach. Then, the mass was totally resected by a left posterolateral thoracotomy. No complications occurred within a follow-up period of five years.

Keywords : Ganglioneuroma/surgery; mediastinal neoplasms/ surgery

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