Large mediastinal nodular ganglioneuroblastoma in a child from Africa

Ganglioneuroblastoma, nodular (GNBn) is a subtype of neuroblastic tumors. This is a rare malignancy typically affecting young children. Few cases are reported in adolescents and adults. The prognosis is related to the surgical excision radicality. Hereby we present a case of a young male patient age...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inAnnali italiani di chirurgia Vol. 83; no. 6; p. 543
Main Authors Guarino, Salvatore, Astini, Carlo, Howard, James Philip, Colombelli, Vito
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Italy 01.11.2012
Subjects
Adolescent
Africa, Eastern
Ganglioneuroblastoma - pathology
Humans
Male
Mediastinal Neoplasms - pathology
Africa, Eastern
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Summary:Ganglioneuroblastoma, nodular (GNBn) is a subtype of neuroblastic tumors. This is a rare malignancy typically affecting young children. Few cases are reported in adolescents and adults. The prognosis is related to the surgical excision radicality. Hereby we present a case of a young male patient age 13 from the Horn of Africa presenting with vague symptoms of fatigue and weight loss. Chest X-ray showed a large radiopaque mass occupying the right thorax. The chest Computed Tomograpy confirmed the presence of an 18-cm large mass originating from the posterior mediastinum and invading most of the right hemi-thorax. Surgical excision and histopathology study of the lesion clarified its rare nature: ganglioneuroblastoma nodular with a particular coexistence of a fibrous benign surface encapsulating a necrotic malignant core. In this case of large GNBn in a young adolescent, the surgical resection alone played a curative treatment role.
ISSN:0003-469X