Surgical management of cervico-mediastinal ganglioneuroma in a child: a case report

Authors

  • Amal Lahssini Department of Thoracic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of Rabat, Mohammed V University, Rabat, Morocco https://orcid.org/0009-0007-9950-0580
  • Hiba Elhajjouli Department of Thoracic Surgery CHU IBN Sina, Rabat, Morocco https://orcid.org/0009-0005-2819-4606
  • Wafae Elaamadi Department of Thoracic Surgery CHU IBN Sina, Rabat, Morocco; Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Mohamed V University, Rabat, Morocco https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8546-3340
  • Rachid Taoufik Department of Thoracic Surgery CHU IBN Sina, Rabat, Morocco; Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Mohamed V University, Rabat, Morocco https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5377-127X
  • Mohammed Bouchikh Department of Thoracic Surgery CHU IBN Sina, Rabat, Morocco 2 Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Mohamed V University, Rabat, Morocco https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8984-5303
  • Abdellah Achir Department of Thoracic Surgery CHU IBN Sina, Rabat, Morocco; Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Mohamed V University, Rabat, Morocco

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.66636/gmj.v1.i3.a158

Keywords:

ganglioneuroma, cervico-mediastinal, neurogenic tumour, paediatric thoracic surgery, thoracic inlet, cervicotomy, Horner syndrome, case report

Abstract

Background: Cervico-mediastinal ganglioneuroma (GN) is a rare benign neurogenic neoplasm arising from neural crest-derived sympathetic tissue. The tumour may be asymptomatic or may produce symptoms attributable to compression of adjacent cervical and mediastinal structures, including Horner's syndrome. Preoperative diagnosis is challenging owing to overlapping radiological features with other cervicothoracic masses. Complete surgical resection remains the definitive treatment and is associated with an excellent long-term prognosis.

Case presentation: We report the case of a 12-year-old girl presenting with a six-year history of a progressively enlarging, painless left laterocervical mass without compressive symptoms. Thoracic CT demonstrated a well-defined, oval, lobulated, predominantly cystic lesion measuring 85 × 55 × 122 mm, extending from the left laterocervical region through the thoracic inlet into the superior mediastinum, with rightward displacement of the tracheooesophageal axis. Preoperative imaging suggested cystic lymphangioma. Under general anaesthesia, complete surgical resection was achieved via an anterior cervico-transsternal approach. The postoperative course was marked by transient unilateral ptosis, which resolved spontaneously. Final histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of ganglioneuroma. At three-year follow-up, the patient remains in good general condition with no evidence of recurrence.

Conclusion: This case illustrates the diagnostic challenges of cervico-mediastinal GN in the paediatric population and underscores the importance of an appropriately planned surgical approach — including a combined cervico-transsternal access — for achieving complete resection whilst preserving adjacent vascular and neural structures. Transient Horner's syndrome is an expected operative risk and commonly resolves postoperatively.

Keywords: ganglioneuroma; cervico-mediastinal; neurogenic tumour; paediatric thoracic surgery; thoracic inlet; cervicotomy; Horner syndrome; case report

References

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Published

08/25/2026

How to Cite

Lahssini, A., Elhajjouli, H., Elaamadi, W., Taoufik, R., Bouchikh, M., & Achir, A. (2026). Surgical management of cervico-mediastinal ganglioneuroma in a child: a case report. Georgian Medical Journal, 1(3). https://doi.org/10.66636/gmj.v1.i3.a158

Issue

Vol. 1 No. 3 (2026): Surgical Innovation, Paediatrics, and Environmental Health

Section

Case Reports

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Copyright (c) 2026 Amal Lahssini, Hiba Elhajjouli, Wafae Elaamadi, Rachid Taoufik, Mohammed Bouchikh, Abdellah Achir

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