Ganglioneuroblastoma in a newborn with multiple metastases: a case report

• Main Authors: Eva Gauchan, Prakash Sharma, Dilasma Ghartimagar, Arnab Ghosh
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2017-08-01
• Series: Journal of Medical Case Reports
• Subjects: Blueberry muffin rash; Case report; Ganglioneuroblastoma; Metastases; Newborn
• Online Access: http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13256-017-1397-x

Abstract Background Ganglioneuroblastoma is a tumor of peripheral neuroblastic tissue which occurs predominantly in the pediatric age group; it is a rare occurrence in the newborn period with only one case reported at birth to date. Case presentation We report the case of a newborn male baby of Brahmin ethnicity from Nepal who presented with respiratory distress and blueberry muffin skin lesions after birth. A computed tomography scan showed a mass lesion in the posterior mediastinum, which was diagnosed as ganglioneuroblastoma on fine-needle aspiration cytology. He also had metastases to multiple sites including heart, lungs, skin and brain. Conclusions Ganglioneuroblastoma is a rare tumor in newborns. Any newborn presenting with respiratory distress associated with blueberry muffin skin lesions should be evaluated for neuroblastic tumor.