July - September 2014, Volume 10, Issue 3

Kaminska E, Obolonczyk L, Kmiec P, Czapiewski P, Babinska A, Sworczak K

Report on 5 Cases of Adrenal Ganglioneuromas

Acta Endo (Buc) 2014, 10 (3): 477-486
doi: 10.4183/aeb.2014.477

Background. Ganglioneuroma (GN) is a rare, benign, neuroblastic tumor. It may arise from the sympathetic plexus or adrenal medulla. Its most common location is the posterior mediastinum (41.5%), while in approximately 21% of patients the tumor is located in the adrenal gland. Median age of adults at diagnosis is approximately 40 to 50 years of age. Since GN is most commonly asymptomatic, the diagnosis is usually accidental, i.e. when radiological examinations are performed due to other indications. This slow-growing tumor can reach a large size. In a small percentage of patients the tumor secretes catecholamines. We present five ganglioneuroma patients, who were hospitalized in our Department from 1993 through 2012. Their mean age was 31 years. In four cases the tumor was located in the adrenal gland and in one - extra-adrenally, which was revealed during surgery. In three out of five presented cases pathological hormone secretion by the tumor was confirmed in laboratory results.

Keywords: ganglioneuroma, adrenal tumor, adult, catecholamine hypersecretion

Correspondence: Piotr Kmiec, Medical University of Gdansk, Department of Endocrinology and Internal Medicine, 7 Debinki St., Gdansk, 80952, Poland, E-mail: piotrkmiec@gmail.com