BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuGanglioneuromaGanglioneuroma is a tumor of the autonomic nervous system. Causes Ganglioneuromas are rare tumors that most often start in autonomic nerve cells. Autonomic nerves manage body functions such as blood pressure, heart rate, sweating, bowel and bladder emptying, and digestion. The tumors are usually noncancerous (benign).BenignBenign refers to a condition, tumor, or growth that is not cancerous. This means that it does not spread to other parts of the body. It does not in...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Ganglioneuromas usually occur in people over 10 years of age. They grow slowly, and may release certain chemicals or hormones.There are no known risk factors. However, the tumors may be associated with some genetic problems, such as neurofibromatosis type 1.Neurofibromatosis type 1Neurofibromatosis-1 (NF1) is an inherited disorder in which nerve tissue tumors (neurofibromas) form in the:Upper and lower layers of the skinNerves ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Symptoms A ganglioneuroma usually causes no symptoms. The tumor is only discovered when a person is examined or treated for another condition.Symptoms depend on the location of the tumor and the type of chemicals it releases.If the tumor is in the chest area (mediastinum), symptoms may include:Breathing difficulty Chest pain Chest painChest pain is discomfort or pain that you feel anywhere along the front of your body between your neck and upper abdomen.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Compression of the windpipe (trachea) If the tumor is lower down in the abdomen in the area called the retroperitoneal space, symptoms may include:Abdominal pain Bloating If the tumor is near the spinal cord, it may cause:Compression of the spinal cord, which leads to pain and loss of strength or feeling in the legs, arms, or both Spine deformity These tumors may produce certain hormones, which can cause the following symptoms:Diarrhea Enlarged clitoris (women) High blood pressure Increased body hair Sweating Exams and Tests The best tests to identify a ganglioneuroma are:CT scan of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis CT scanA computed tomography (CT) scan is an imaging method that uses x-rays to create pictures of cross-sections of the body. Related tests include:Abdomin...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article MRI scan of the chest and abdomen MRI scanA magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan is an imaging test that uses powerful magnets and radio waves to create pictures of the body. It does not us...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Ultrasound of the abdomen or pelvisUltrasound of the abdomen or pelvisAbdominal ultrasound is a type of imaging test. It is used to look at organs in the abdomen, including the liver, gallbladder, spleen, pancreas, and...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Blood and urine tests may be done to determine if the tumor is producing hormones or other chemicals.A biopsy or complete removal of the tumor may be needed to confirm the diagnosis.BiopsyA biopsy is the removal of a small piece of tissue for laboratory examination.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Treatment Treatment involves surgery to remove the tumor (if it is causing symptoms). Outlook (Prognosis) Most ganglioneuromas are noncancerous. The expected outcome is usually good. A ganglioneuroma may become cancerous and spread to other areas. It may also come back after it is removed. Possible Complications If the tumor has been present for a long time and has pressed on the spinal cord or caused other symptoms, surgery to remove the tumor may not reverse the damage. Compression of the spinal cord may result in loss of movement (paralysis), especially if the cause is not detected promptly.Surgery to remove the tumor may also lead to complications in some cases. In rare cases, problems due to compression may occur even after the tumor is removed. When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your health care provider if you or your child has symptoms that may be caused by this type of tumor.Open ReferencesReferencesGoldblum JR, Folpe AL, Weiss SW. Benign tumors of peripheral nerves. In: Goldblum JR, Folpe AL, Weiss SW, eds. Enzinger and Weiss's Soft Tissue Tumors. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 26.Kaidar-Person O, Zagar T, Haithcock BE, Weiss J. Diseases of the pleura and mediastinum. In: Niederhuber JE, Armitage JO, Kastan MB, Doroshow JH, Tepper JE, eds. Abeloff's Clinical Oncology. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 70.AllVideoImagesTogCentral nervous system and peripheral nervous system - illustration The central nervous system comprises the brain and spinal cord. The peripheral nervous system includes nerves outside the brain and spinal cord.Central nervous system and peripheral nervous systemillustrationCentral nervous system and peripheral nervous system - illustration The central nervous system comprises the brain and spinal cord. The peripheral nervous system includes nerves outside the brain and spinal cord.Central nervous system and peripheral nervous systemillustrationRelated Information Review Date: 7/26/2022 Reviewed By: Evelyn O. Berman, MD, Assistant Professor of Neurology and Pediatrics at University of Rochester, Rochester, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, or correctness of any translations made by a third-party service of the information provided herein into any other language. © 1997- A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. © 1997- All rights reserved. A.D.A.M. content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.Content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.
GanglioneuromaGanglioneuroma is a tumor of the autonomic nervous system. Causes Ganglioneuromas are rare tumors that most often start in autonomic nerve cells. Autonomic nerves manage body functions such as blood pressure, heart rate, sweating, bowel and bladder emptying, and digestion. The tumors are usually noncancerous (benign).BenignBenign refers to a condition, tumor, or growth that is not cancerous. This means that it does not spread to other parts of the body. It does not in...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Ganglioneuromas usually occur in people over 10 years of age. They grow slowly, and may release certain chemicals or hormones.There are no known risk factors. However, the tumors may be associated with some genetic problems, such as neurofibromatosis type 1.Neurofibromatosis type 1Neurofibromatosis-1 (NF1) is an inherited disorder in which nerve tissue tumors (neurofibromas) form in the:Upper and lower layers of the skinNerves ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Symptoms A ganglioneuroma usually causes no symptoms. The tumor is only discovered when a person is examined or treated for another condition.Symptoms depend on the location of the tumor and the type of chemicals it releases.If the tumor is in the chest area (mediastinum), symptoms may include:Breathing difficulty Chest pain Chest painChest pain is discomfort or pain that you feel anywhere along the front of your body between your neck and upper abdomen.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Compression of the windpipe (trachea) If the tumor is lower down in the abdomen in the area called the retroperitoneal space, symptoms may include:Abdominal pain Bloating If the tumor is near the spinal cord, it may cause:Compression of the spinal cord, which leads to pain and loss of strength or feeling in the legs, arms, or both Spine deformity These tumors may produce certain hormones, which can cause the following symptoms:Diarrhea Enlarged clitoris (women) High blood pressure Increased body hair Sweating Exams and Tests The best tests to identify a ganglioneuroma are:CT scan of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis CT scanA computed tomography (CT) scan is an imaging method that uses x-rays to create pictures of cross-sections of the body. Related tests include:Abdomin...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article MRI scan of the chest and abdomen MRI scanA magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan is an imaging test that uses powerful magnets and radio waves to create pictures of the body. It does not us...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Ultrasound of the abdomen or pelvisUltrasound of the abdomen or pelvisAbdominal ultrasound is a type of imaging test. It is used to look at organs in the abdomen, including the liver, gallbladder, spleen, pancreas, and...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Blood and urine tests may be done to determine if the tumor is producing hormones or other chemicals.A biopsy or complete removal of the tumor may be needed to confirm the diagnosis.BiopsyA biopsy is the removal of a small piece of tissue for laboratory examination.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Treatment Treatment involves surgery to remove the tumor (if it is causing symptoms). Outlook (Prognosis) Most ganglioneuromas are noncancerous. The expected outcome is usually good. A ganglioneuroma may become cancerous and spread to other areas. It may also come back after it is removed. Possible Complications If the tumor has been present for a long time and has pressed on the spinal cord or caused other symptoms, surgery to remove the tumor may not reverse the damage. Compression of the spinal cord may result in loss of movement (paralysis), especially if the cause is not detected promptly.Surgery to remove the tumor may also lead to complications in some cases. In rare cases, problems due to compression may occur even after the tumor is removed. When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your health care provider if you or your child has symptoms that may be caused by this type of tumor.Open ReferencesReferencesGoldblum JR, Folpe AL, Weiss SW. Benign tumors of peripheral nerves. In: Goldblum JR, Folpe AL, Weiss SW, eds. Enzinger and Weiss's Soft Tissue Tumors. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 26.Kaidar-Person O, Zagar T, Haithcock BE, Weiss J. Diseases of the pleura and mediastinum. In: Niederhuber JE, Armitage JO, Kastan MB, Doroshow JH, Tepper JE, eds. Abeloff's Clinical Oncology. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 70.