Case Reports
. 2021 Jul 31;13(7):e16794.
doi: 10.7759/cureus.16794.
eCollection 2021 Jul.
Affiliations
Affiliations
- 1 Neurosurgery, Baylor Scott and White Medical Center – Temple, Temple, USA.
- 2 Pathology, Baylor Scott and White Medical Center – Temple, Temple, USA.
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Case Reports
Ravi Gaddipati et al.
Cureus.
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. 2021 Jul 31;13(7):e16794.
doi: 10.7759/cureus.16794.
eCollection 2021 Jul.
Affiliations
- 1 Neurosurgery, Baylor Scott and White Medical Center – Temple, Temple, USA.
- 2 Pathology, Baylor Scott and White Medical Center – Temple, Temple, USA.
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Abstract
Ganglioneuromas are rare, benign tumors arising from the sympathetic nervous system. The presentation of the tumor is variable and may be associated with scoliosis. Few reports of ganglioneuroma associated with scoliosis- exist and most involve the thoracic spine. Here, we present a 13-year-old female with scoliosis who was found to have a lumbar ganglioneuroma. The patient was treated with a subtotal resection and lumbar spinal fusion to correct her scoliosis in a single-stage operation. The patient’s symptoms and scoliosis markedly improved following treatment without any complications. Additionally, we conducted an up-to-date literature review of ganglioneuromas associated with scoliosis that have been published in the last 20 years. We discuss variations in clinical presentation and surgical approach.
Keywords:
approaches; ganglioneuroma; scoliosis; spine; tumor.
Copyright © 2021, Gaddipati et al.
Conflict of interest statement
The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.
Figures

Figure 1. (A) Preoperative coronal T2-weighted MRI…
Figure 1. (A) Preoperative coronal T2-weighted MRI demonstrating the mass at the right L3-L4 level…
Figure 1. (A) Preoperative coronal T2-weighted MRI demonstrating the mass at the right L3-L4 level with extension into the right psoas muscle and (B) on postcontrast axial MRI with the same mass causing mild effacement of the thecal sac.

Figure 2. Postoperative MRI demonstrating near-complete excision…
Figure 2. Postoperative MRI demonstrating near-complete excision and fusion of L2-L5.
(A) T2-weighted coronal and…
Figure 2. Postoperative MRI demonstrating near-complete excision and fusion of L2-L5.
(A) T2-weighted coronal and (B) T1-weighted postcontrast axial MRIs.

Figure 3. Intraoperative images of the proximal…
Figure 3. Intraoperative images of the proximal tumor (A) before and (B) after excision.
Figure 3. Intraoperative images of the proximal tumor (A) before and (B) after excision.

Figure 4. Hematoxylin and eosin stain of…
Figure 4. Hematoxylin and eosin stain of the resected mass demonstrating an admixture of Schwann…
Figure 4. Hematoxylin and eosin stain of the resected mass demonstrating an admixture of Schwann cells and ganglion cells.
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