Clinicopathological Features of Ganglioneuroma Originating From the Adrenal Glands

• Published in: World journal of surgery Vol. 40; no. 12; pp. 2970 - 2975
• Main Authors: Lee, Joon-Hyop, Chai, Young Jun, Kim, Tae-Hyung, Choi, June Young, Lee, Kyu Eun, Kim, Hyun-Young, Yoon, Yoo-Seok, Kim, Hyeon Hoe
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cham Springer International Publishing 01.12.2016; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Abdominal Surgery; Adolescent; Adrenal Adenoma; Adrenal Gland Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging; Adrenal Gland Neoplasms - pathology; Adrenal Gland Neoplasms - surgery; Adrenalectomy; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Cardiac Surgery; Child; Child, Preschool; Compute Tomography Feature; Contrast Media; Early Gastric Cancer; Female; Ganglioneuroma - diagnostic imaging; Ganglioneuroma - pathology; Ganglioneuroma - surgery; General Surgery; Hounsfield Unit; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Laparoscopic Adrenalectomy; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; Original Scientific Report; Retrospective Studies; Surgery; Thoracic Surgery; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Tumor Burden; Vascular Surgery; Young Adult; Early Gastric Cancer; Hounsfield Unit; Adrenal Adenoma; Laparoscopic Adrenalectomy; Compute Tomography Feature
• ISSN: 0364-2313; 1432-2323
• DOI: 10.1007/s00268-016-3630-y

Background Ganglioneuromas are benign tumors that rarely develop from adrenal glands. In this study, we present our clinical experience of patients with adrenal ganglioneuroma (AGN). Methods Demographic, diagnostic, surgical, and pathologic findings of patients who were adrenalectomized as a result of AGN were retrospectively reviewed from the database of a tertiary referral hospital. Results Among 1784 patients who underwent an adrenalectomy between 2002 and 2015, 35 (1.9 %; 14 males, 21 females) were diagnosed with AGN. Mean age was 33.4 ± 18.7 years (0–84). Twenty-nine (82.9 %) were asymptomatic, four (11.4 %) complained of abdominal discomfort, and two (5.7 %) had abdominal distension. Preoperative computed tomography (CT) reported AGN in 22 (62.9 %) cases. Precontrast Hounsfield units, increased postcontrast phase attenuation, and well-defined borders were characteristic CT features of AGN. Mean tumor size was 6.3 ± 3.3 cm (range, 1.5–16.0). No recurrence occurred during a median follow-up period of 19 months (range, 1–120). Conclusion AGN was asymptomatic in most cases and diagnosis may be challenging. Adrenalectomy is a safe treatment modality for AGN and ensures favorable outcomes when diagnosed.