[Diagnosis and treatment for adrenal ganglioneuroma]

To evaluate the clinical characteristics,diagnosis and treatment for adrenal ganglioneuroma.

Thirty cases of adrenal ganglioneuroma at our hospital from 1999 to 2010 were reviewed. Their clinical, radiological, laboratory and pathologic findings as well as follow-up data were analyzed retrospectively.

There were 12 males and 18 females with an age range of 7 - 63 (23.8 ± 11.4) years old. Tumor size ranged from 2.5 cm to 15 cm. Fourteen (46.7%) cases were found incidentally without any overt symptom. And the presenting symptoms and signs of the others were paroxysmal headache and palpitation (n = 7, 23.3%), hypertension (n = 5, 16.7%) and flank or abdominal pain (n = 4, 13.3%). All cases underwent open or laproscopic operations and their diagnosis of adrenal ganglioneuroma was confirmed pathologically. An oval or crescentic well-defined mass, low or intermediate attenuation on CT (computed tomography) scan was found in most cases. Tumors partially or completely surrounded major blood vessels in 9 cases while 7 cases had discrete punctuate calcification. The 24-hours urinary catecholamine and urinary free cortisol output were within a normal range. Seventeen cases underwent a (99)Tc-octreotide scan and negative results were found in 15 cases. Seven cases had a (131)I-Metaiodobenzylguanidine ((131)I-MIBG) scan and all results were negative. Twenty-one cases were diagnosed empirically as adrenal ganglioneuroma. One case was found pre-operatively with multiple bone metastases. Among all cases, either open operation (n = 11) or retroperitoneal laparoscopic excision (n = 19) was performed successfully. All recovered smoothly. One patient with pre-operative bone metastasis developed progression. No recurrence was detected after a follow-up period of 1 - 11 years.

Mostly benign in nature, adrenal ganglioneuromas is often found incidentally without specific clinic symptoms. A relatively accurate preoperative diagnosis can be made on the basis of a detailed history and the relevant imaging and laboratory results. Surgical resection of tumor is a preferred choice with a fairy good prognosis.