A rare case of adrenal ganglioneuroblastoma-intermixed in an adult and a review of literature

• Main Authors: Lorenzo Vassallo, MD, Mirella Fasciano, MD, Ilaria Baralis, MD, Luca Pellegrino, MD, Mirella Fortunato, MD, Giulio Fraternali Orcioni, MD, Stefania Sorrentino, MD
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 2021-09-01
• Series: Radiology Case Reports
• Subjects: Ganglioneuroblastoma; Neuroblastoma; Adrenal gland; Adult; Computed tomography; Magnetic resonance imaging
• Online Access: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1930043321003824

Peripheral neuroblastic tumors are extremely rare in the adult with less just over 20 cases involving adrenal gland described in the literature. We reported herewith the case of a 22-year-old young male who presented with epigastric pain and diarrhea. Imaging studies documented a 3.5cm x 3cm x 4cm solid well-circumscribed right adrenal mass, of heterogeneous structure and with fine calcifications. The lesion turned negative at MIBG scintigraphy. A right robotic-assisted adrenalectomy was performed leading to complete excision of the lesion without complications. Histology was consistent with intermixed stroma-rich ganglioneuroblastoma. A wait-and-see strategy was considered adequate. Two years after diagnosis patient is alive disease-free. Although the definitive diagnosis of a peripheral neuroblastic tumor is obtained after histopathological analysis, CT, and MRI are helpful to further characterize masses and useful in pretreatment risk stratification. Clinicians should be aware of the possibility of GNB development in adult population and its malignant potential.