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Updated: Nov 24, 2025

A Novel Method: Super-selective Adrenal Venous Sampling
Published on: September 15, 2017
Unusual appearance of an adrenal ganglioneuroma
Mohit Bansal1, Adib R Karam1, Sonja D Chen2
1Department of Diagnostic Imaging, The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Rhode Island Hospital, 593 Eddy St., Providence, RI 02903 USA.
Abstract:
Ganglioneuromas are rare tumors that occur spontaneously or arise from a poorly differentiated neuroblastic tumor. Although they are typically described in the pediatric population, they can occur in adults. Ganglioneuromas are often discovered incidentally and their typical imaging appearance, although non-specific, is that of a well-defined solid mass. We are presenting a case of a fat-containing adrenal lesion in a 53-year-old male. The extensive lipomatous changes within the lesion led to the presumption that it represented an adrenal myelolipoma. Pathology revealed a ganglioneuroma with extensive lipomatous changes. This is an uncommon presentation of an adrenal ganglioneuroma mimicking an adrenal myelolipoma. The diagnosis of an adrenal ganglioneuroma raises the possibility of syndromic associations for which patients may undergo genetic testing. We provide a review of typical imaging features of an adrenal ganglioneuroma and provide insight into the situations in which a ganglioneuroma can be suggested as a diagnostic consideration.
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