JOURNAL ARTICLE
RESEARCH SUPPORT, NON-U.S. GOV'T
Add like
Add dislike
Add to saved papers

Retrospective study of childhood ganglioneuroma.

PURPOSE: To review a historical cohort of childhood ganglioneuroma (GN), the benign representative of the peripheral neuroblastic tumor (PNT) family.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Of 2,286 PNTs enrolled between 1979 and 2005, 146 (6.4%) were registered as GN. Histological revision was carried out on 76 tumors. Diagnosis was confirmed in 45, while 27 were reclassified as ganglioneuroblastoma intermixed (GNBI) and four were reclassified as other PNT subtypes.

RESULTS: GNs differed from other PNTs for sex, age, tumor site, stage, tumor markers, and scintigraphic results. Characteristics of 76 reviewed and 70 nonreviewed patients were comparable. Reviewed GN and GNBI patients were comparable except for homovanillic acid excretion, metaiodobenzylguanidine scintigraphy, and DNA content. Seven patients were only biopsied and 139 underwent surgery. Twenty-two patients suffered surgery-related complications, of which two were fatal and seven were severe. Radical tumor resection and surgery-related complication rates were comparable for GN, GNBI, and nonreviewed instances. Six patients developed tumor progression but survived. Two patients developed a late malignancy but survived. None of the 146 patients received chemotherapy. Of 146 patients, two died of surgery-related complications and 144 survived.

CONCLUSION: Diagnosis was changed to GNBI for approximately one third of 76 reviewed tumors. Patients with confirmed GN, reclassified as GNBI, and nonreviewed histology presented with comparable clinical, biochemical, and biologic features. Surgical results, complication rate, number of progressions, and outcome were similar for the three groups. Surgery was associated with significant risk of complications. Survival was not influenced by extent of tumor resection. Aggressive surgical approach should not be recommended for childhood GN and GNBI.

Full text links

We have located links that may give you full text access.
Can't access the paper?
Try logging in through your university/institutional subscription. For a smoother one-click institutional access experience, please use our mobile app.

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app

Mobile app image

Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app

All material on this website is protected by copyright, Copyright © 1994-2024 by WebMD LLC.
This website also contains material copyrighted by 3rd parties.

By using this service, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy.

Your Privacy Choices Toggle icon

You can now claim free CME credits for this literature searchClaim now

Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app