Ganglioneuroma

Ganglioneuroma (occasionally called a "ganglioma") is a rare and benign tumor of the autonomic nerve fibers arising from neural crest sympathogonia (undifferentiated cells of the sympathetic nervous system). However, ganglioneuromas themselves are fully differentiated neuronal tumors that do not contain immature elements.

Ganglioneuromas most frequently occur in the abdomen, however these tumors can grow anywhere sympathetic nervous tissue is found. Other common locations include the adrenal gland, paraspinal retroperitoneum, posterior mediastinum, head, and neck. It is contained within the neuroblastic tumors group, which includes: Ganglioneuroma (benign), Ganglioneuroblastoma (intermediate), Neuroblastoma (aggressive).

Since ganglioneuromas are derived from neural crest cells, they may present as composite tumors with other neural crest-derived tumors, such as pheochromocytoma. These are referred to as pheochromocytoma-ganglioneuroma composite tumors. Clinical symptoms are primarily related to the pheochromocytoma component and may include sweating, hypertension, and palpitations due to catecholamine excess.