J Korean Surg Soc.  2011 Apr;80(4):297-300. 10.4174/jkss.2011.80.4.297.

Adrenal ganglioneuroma with hepatic metastasis

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Pathology, Keimyung University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea. yunakang@dsmc.or.kr
  • 2Department of Surgery, Keimyung University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.
  • 3Department of Radiology, Keimyung University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.

Abstract

Ganglioneuroma is the most differentiated tumor of neural crest origin and rarely arises in the adrenal gland. Ganglioneuroma is typically known to be benign, but very rarely can metastasize to distant sites. We report a case of a 31-year-old man with a huge adrenal mass with hepatic metastases.

Keyword

Ganglioneuroma; Adrenal gland; Adult; Metastasis

MeSH Terms

Adrenal Glands
Adult
Ganglioneuroma
Humans
Neoplasm Metastasis
Neural Crest

Figure

  • Fig. 1 Axial magnetic resonance images show a large mass in the right adrenal gland, which reveals hypointense signal intensity on T1-weighted image (A) and slightly hyperintense and heterogeneous signal intensity on T2-weighted image (B).

  • Fig. 2 Axial T1-weighted axial magnetic resonace image shows a small wedge-shaped hypointense nodule in the subcapsular location of medial segment (arrow).

  • Fig. 3 The liver shows three white and round subcapsular metastatic lesions (A). Cut surface of one of the wedge resected liver tissue shows pale tan to white scar-like lesion with infiltrative border at subcapsular area (B).

  • Fig. 4 Cut surface of the right adrenal gland showed a round well demarcated pale tan, solid, and firm mass.

  • Fig. 5 Section of the adrenal mass shows scattered ganglion cells surrounded by fascicles of schwann-like spindle cells (A, H&E, ×100). There is a focus of differentiating neuroblasts (B, H&E, ×200).

  • Fig. 6 Section of the liver tissue shows scar-like lesion at low magnification (A, H&E, ×40) and scattered ganglion cells surrounded by fascicles of schwann-like spindle cells at high magnification (B, H&E, ×100).


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