Ganglioneuroma - Symptoms,Causes
Ganglioneuroma is a tumor of the peripheral nervous system.
Causes
Ganglioneuromas are rare tumors that most frequently start in the autonomic nerve cells, which may be in any part of the body. The tumor are usually noncancerous (benign).
Ganglioneuromas usually occur in people ages 10 to 40. They grow slowly, and may release certain chemicals or hormones.
There are no known risk factors. However, the tumors may be associated with some genetic problems, such as neurofibromatosis type 1.
Symptoms
A ganglioneuroma usually causes no symptoms, and is only discovered when being examined or treated for another condition.
Symptoms depend on the location of the tumor and the type of chemicals released.
If the tumor is in the chest area (mediastinum), symptoms may include:
Breathing difficulty
Chest pain
Compression of the windpipe (trachea)
If the tumor is lower down in the abdomen in the area called the retroperitoneal space, symptoms may include:
Abdominal pain
Bloating
If the tumor is near the spinal cord, it may cause:
Compression of the spinal cord, which leads to pain and loss of strength or feeling in the legs, the arms, or both
Spine deformity
These tumors may produce certain hormones, which can cause the following symptoms:
Diarrhea
Enlarged clitoris (women)
High blood pressure
Increased body hair
Sweating
Exams and Tests
The best tools to identify a ganglioneuroma are:
CT scanCT scan
MRI scanMRI scan
Blood and urine tests may be done to determine if the tumor is producing hormones or other chemicals.
A biopsy or complete removal of the tumor may be needed to confirm the diagnosis.
Treatment
Treatment involves surgery to remove the tumor (if it is causing symptoms).
Update Date: Updated by: Daniel B. Hoch, PhD, MD, Assistant Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
Ganglioneuroma - Symptoms,Causes
