Endocrinologically active retroperitoneal ganglioneuroma with positive iodine-131-metaiodobenzylguanidine scintigraphy.

BACKGROUND

A case of retroperitoneal ganglioneuroma incidentally found by ultrasonography in a 56-year old woman is presented.

RESULTS

Computed tomography revealed a solid round tumor 6 cm in diameter on the upper pole of the right kidney. Iodine-131-metaiodobenzylguanidine weakly accumulated in the tumor 24 and 48 h after the injection. Her serum catecholamines were within normal limits apart from slightly elevated norepinephrine at one of the two examinations. During the operation her serum epinephrine and dopamine levels were elevated to about 50 and 800 times higher than pre-operative values, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

This case is a rare ganglioneuroma in an adult patient that is endocrinologically active.