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Introduction

Ganglioneuromas are a type of benign peripheral nerve tumor with an incidence of 1/100,000 (1,2). Furthermore, women are more frequently affected than men (1–3). Ganglioneuromas most frequently occur in the sympathetic ganglia and adrenal medulla, exerting the majority of their effect on spinal and sympathetic nerves, and causing neural dysfunction (4). These benign tumors contain well-differentiated ganglion cells, which are otherwise common in the posterior mediastinum and retroperitoneal regions. Ganglioneuromas located in the spinal cord are rare, and are frequently dumbbell-shaped (5,6). Ganglioneuromas typically present at a late stage due to their slow growth. Recurrence and malignant transformation of the tumor are rare, thus, complete surgical excision provides effective cure (7). When present in uncommon locations, such as the cauda equina, incorrect provisional diagnoses of ganglioneuroma, as other more common neoplasms, are likely, due to its analogous radiological features (8). For this reason, it is important to maintain a broad list of differential diagnoses until histopathological findings can confirm a diagnosis. To date, only one mixed chemodectoma-ganglioneuroma of the conus medullaris region has been reported (9). The current study reports a case of ganglioneuroma located at the conus medullaris. The patient underwent laminotomy surgery and a favorable outcome was achieved. Written informed consent was obtained from the patient.

Case report

A 38-year-old Chinese man presented to Beijing Tian Tin Hospital (Beijing, China) in October 2012, with an 8-month history of numbness in the lower limbs and muscle atrophy of the right lower limb. The patient had also experienced dysuria over the preceding month. Routine physical examination revealed no notable abnormalities. Neurological examination confirmed hypoesthesia of the hypogastrium region and the two lower limbs, grade IV myodynamia of the lower limbs and grade V myodynamia of the upper limbs (10). Family history revealed no indication of a hereditary etiology. Routine blood, urine, blood biochemistry and coagulation function tests were normal.

Spinal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed an irregular-shaped mass (1.5×1.0×1.0 cm) located in the conus medullaris (Fig. 1). The major section of the mass appeared isointense on T1-weighted (T1WI) and T2-weighted (T2WI) images. At the inferior pole of the lesion, there was a nodular, low-intensity signal identified by T1WI and T2WI scans. The conus medullaris surface revealed a discontinuous punctiform or linear high-intensity signal on the T1WI. On the contrast-enhanced T1WI, the major portion was homogeneously enhanced and the conus medullaris surface showed a visible linear enhancement compared with that of the T1WI. Furthermore, at the upper end of the lesion, a large syringomyelia (T5–11) was identified (Fig. 2). Based on the provisional diagnosis of ependymoma, surgery was undertaken to excise the mass. During the laminotomy, surgeons incised the dura mater along the posterior midline to expose the lesion and the tumor was visually confirmed to lie in the conus medullaris. The tumor was gray-red and rubbery, with a blood supply and a draining vein in the rostral pole. Complete resection was performed.

Figure 1. Axial T2WI scan of the spine prior to surgery. An irregular-shaped, isointense mass (arrow) was identified in the conus medullaris.

Figure 2. Sagittal (A) T1WI, (B) T2WI and (C) contrast-enhanced T1WI of the spine prior to surgery. The major portion of the tumor (arrow) appeared as an isointensity on T1WI and T2WI. A nodular, low-intensity signal was detected on T1WI and T2WI at the inferior pole of the tumor (arrowhead). T1WI revealed a large syringomyelia (T5–11) as a discontinuous punctiform or linear high-intensity signal on the conus medullaris surface. Following contrast injection, the major portion of the tumor demonstrated marked and homogeneous enhancement (curved arrow), while the conus medullaris surface showed linear enhancement.

Histological examination revealed that the neoplastic lesion consisted of spindle-shaped cells, between which, large ganglion cells with vesicular nuclei and eosinophilic nucleoli were identified (Fig. 3). Immunohistochemical staining was positive for S-100, and the neuronal markers synaptophysin (SYN), neuron-specific enolase (NSE), microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP-2) and neurofilament (NF). Staining was negative for glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), NeuN and myelin basic protein (MBP). Furthermore, the number of cells immunopositive for the cell proliferation marker Ki-67 was <2%, confirming the benign nature of the mass.

Figure 3. Hematoxylin and eosin staining photomicrograph (magnification, ×20). Postoperative histopathology of the excised tumor revealed ganglion cells with vesicular nuclei and eosinophilic nucleoli.

MRI examination 3 days subsequent to surgery confirmed that the tumor was excised and there was no notable syrinx collapse or retraction of the spinal cord (Fig. 4). The patient was discharged on the ninth post-operative day. At the follow-up consultation 18 months later, the patient exhibited moderate difficulty walking and urinating, but was otherwise well.

Figure 4. Sagittal (A) T1WI, (B) T2WI, (C) contrast-enhanced T1WI and (D) axial T2WI of the spine following surgery. The tumor was excised (arrow), revealing lamina discontinuity (curved arrow). Following contraast injection, there was a nodular, enhanced signal within the operation scope (arrowhead).

Discussion

Derived from the embryonic neural crest, ganglioneuromas arise from sympathoblasts and mainly occur in the sympathetic ganglion and adrenal medulla, common particularly in the posterior mediastinum and retroperitoneal region (11). The explanation for the uncommon location of ganglioneuroma is likely a result of the mechanism of neural crest cell migration in the embryonic period (4). The neural crest consists of a band of longitudinal cells between the neural tube and epidermis, when the neural tube is completed (12). Subsequently, sections of the neural crest cells migrate to the ventral side, while certain cells remain in the neural tube (spinal cord), when the neural crest is formed at the back of neural tube (13,14). Therefore, the conus medullaris region is a possible anatomical location for the origin of ganglioneuroma (4,12–15).

Ganglioneuroma and ganglioneuroblastomas are types of neuroblastoma (15,16). Ganglioneuromas are frequently localized along the sympathetic chain in the posterior mediastinal, retroperitoneal, adrenal gland and cervical spinal regions (17,18). Other potential locations include the presacrum, thoracolumbar region and bone (19,20). Ganglioneuromas located in the conus medullaris, and associated with syringomyelia, are rare. In the presence of a syringomyelia, or when a low-intensity signal is present on T2WI scans (indicating calcified foci or hemorrhage), an incorrect diagnosis of ependymoma may be made. On occasion, the features of ganglioneuromas may mimic those of myxopapillary ependymomas, which are often located in the conus medullaris and the cauda equina, and are commonly associated with hemorrhages that appear as low-intensity signals on T2WI (9,21). Other spinal lesions, for example hemangioblastomas, which are characterized by small lesions with multi-sectional syringomyelia, are also difficult to differentiate (22). Similarly, in the present case, a contrast-enhanced vessel was identified above the lesion in the T1WI. Differential diagnosis is also difficult with spinal paragangliomas, where the tumor is always in the cauda equina, showing intense homogeneous enhancement by MRI, whereas large paragangliomas may show bony remodeling or erosion (23,24). For these reasons a radiological diagnosis based on such analogous imaging features is difficult and may result in misdiagnosis.

Pathologically, ganglioneuromas are well-differentiated, benign tumors, which are populated by mature sympathetic ganglion cells (17). Typically, such features may aid the distinction of these tumors from other spinal lesions, including ependymomas, hemangioblastomas, paragangliomas, schwannomas and neurofibromas. Further histological examination in the present study revealed that the neoplastic lesion consisted of spindle-shaped cells, between which, large ganglion cells with vesicular nuclei and eosinophilic nucleoli were found. The ganglion cells were positively stained for S-100, SYN, NSE, MAP-2 and NF.

During surgery, the tumor was completely resected and the associated syringomyelia did not receive any specific treatment. The tumor-associated cyst or syrinx is typically expected to shrink, or even fully return to normal, following tumor resection. However, post-operative MRI indicated no marked syrinx collapse or retraction of the spinal cord. At the 18-month follow-up, the patient still exhibited mild motor deficits. It was therefore hypothesized that the pre-existing syringomyelia may have been the reason underlying this long-term damage (25). Pressure on spinal cord parenchyma, secondary to syringomyelia cavity expansion, may have contributed to the spinal cord dysfunction, particularly since intra-syrinx fluid is typically characterized by high viscosity and pressure (26). While it has not been studied extensively, it has been suggested that spinal cord ischemia may be another significant contributor to spinal cord dysfunction. Ischemia may arise from a marked increase in regional spinal cord blood flow following decompression of the syrinx (27,28). Damage sustained in this way is likely to contribute to compromised post-operative spinal cord function and sub-optimal recovery from surgical resection.

In conclusion, ganglioneuromas are benign, well-differentiated tumors. When present in uncommon locations, for example the cauda equina, incorrect provisional diagnoses of other, more common neoplasms are likely due to the analogous radiological features. For this reason, it is important to maintain a broad range of differential diagnoses until histopathological findings are able to confirm a diagnosis.

References