• The Journal of the Korean bone and joint tumor society
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.52-58
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• 2009

Giant cell tumor (GCT) of the rib may present as a posterior mediastinal mass when it involves the posterior arc. Only 4 cases of GCT of the rib presenting as a posterior mediastinal mass have been reported. We report a case of a 38-year-old man with GCT of the rib. Computed tomography revealed a well-defined, multi-lobulated, heterogeneous mass in the right superoposterior mediastinum, which appeared to invade the right third rib and thoracic vertebra. It was thought to be a posterior mediastinal ganglioneuroma or its malignant transformation. Grossly, the tumor mass arose in the posterior arc and showed substantial growth out of the rib. Microscopically, the tumor consisted of interspersed multi-nucleated giant cells and stromal mononuclear cells, compatible with GCT. For GCT, a wide excision with elective radiotherapy should be considered. GCT must be differentiated from posterior mediastinal ganglioneuroma that can be treated by surgical excision alone.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.213-217
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• 1995

Mediastinal ganglioneuroma is infrequently encountered in childhood. The posterior mediastinal ganglioneuroma which extended the contralateral thorax was very rare. A 4-year-old boy had a ganglioneuroma which involved bilateral thorax and encased the aorta and azygous vein and the ganglioneuroma was successfully extirpated by two-staged operations.; left thoracotomy first right thoracotomy 10days later.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.12-16
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• 2003

Ganglioneuroma is a well-differentiated, benign tumor of the sympathetic nervous system. These tumors belong to a family of neoplasm that exhibit a wide range of differentiation, with neuroblastoma at one end and ganglioneuroma at the other. Because it share morphologic features with other both benign and malignant neural tumors, accurate preoperative diagnosis is often difficult. Nonetheless, it is critical for proper management. Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) in the diagnosis of the ganglioneuroma has been a little documented. We describe a case of mediastinal ganglioneuroma in a 33-month-old girl. The diagnosis was suggested on FNAC and was confirmed by histopathologic examination later.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.67-70
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• 2019

Ganglioneuroma (GN) is benign neurogenic tumor arising from ganglia of the sympathetic nervous system. They are mostly found at posterior mediastinum, retroperitoneum, and adrenal gland, whereas only 1-5% occurred in the cervical region. GN usually present as a single, painless and slow-growing mass, but multiple cervical occurrences are extremely rare. An 80-year-old woman came to our clinic complained of posterior neck mass for three years. We performed surgical excision, and it was finally diagnosed as GN. We report the unique and rare disease entity with a brief literature review.

• The Korean journal of helicobacter and upper gastrointestinal research
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.271-274
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• 2018

Ganglioneuroma of the gastrointestinal tract is a rare tumor that consists of ganglion cells, nerve fibers, and supporting cells of the enteric nervous system. Ganglioneuromas are usually associated with genetic disorders such as the multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome or neurofibromatosis. Ganglioneuromas of the gastrointestinal tract predominantly involve the colon and rectum, and reports about duodenal ganglioneuromas are few. Herein, we report a case of duodenal ganglioneuroma treated with endoscopic resection. A 56-year-old female patient visited our hospital because of a subepithelial tumor in the second portion of the duodenum. She had no remarkable medical or family history and revealed no history of genetic disorders. Endoscopic ultrasonography and abdominal computed tomography revealed a tumor located mainly in the submucosal layer, without any regional lymph node involvement. Endoscopic resection of the lesion was performed, and the pathological examination confirmed a duodenal ganglioneuroma.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.477-480
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• 2010

Purpose: Ganglioneuromas are well-differentiated tumors derived from neuroectodermal neural crest cells. Although these tumors can occur anywhere along the sympathetic chain from the base of the skull to the pelvic cavity, they usually develop in the posterior mediastinum and retroperitoneum these tumors are rarely found in the cervical region. Method: We report the case of a 16-year-old male patient with neurofibromatosis type 1 who was admitted because of a palpable mass centrally located on the left side of the neck. A preoperative contrast-enhanced neck computed tomography image showed a low-density homogeneous mass on the parapharyngeal space along with marked displacement of the trachea and carotid vessels. Round and soft masses were also detected on both axillae. Results: The patient subsequently underwent complete excision of the neck mass via the transcervical approach. The mass was smooth and well encapsulated between the sternocleidomastoid muscle and the trachea. Further, the mass appeared to arise from the cervical sympathetic chain, which was preserved during surgery. Both the axillary masses were also excised. The histopathological findings were ganglioneuroma for the neck mass and neurofibroma for both the axillary masses. Conclusion: Cervical ganglioneuromas are rare tumors that present as enlarging parapharyngeal cervical masses in the oropharynx or neck. To our knowledge, a case of cervical ganglioneuroma associated with neurofibromatosis type 1 has never been reported. In patients with neurofibromatosis, multiple tumors may develop, and therefore periodic clinical and radiological follow-up is recommended. Further, repeated imaging analysis should be performed if the presence of another tumor is suspected.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.35 no.11
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• pp.807-811
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• 2002

Due to its less invasive nature and superior visual field, video-assisted thoracescopic excision of mediastinal mass is thought to be comparable to open thoracotomy. Material and Method : From January 1995 to August 2001, the medical records of 38 patients who underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic excision of mediastinal mass was retrospectively analyzed. The outcome of these patients were compared with 5 patients who converted to thoracotomy Result: Male to female ratio was 13(34.2%) : 25(65.8%), and mean age was 39.2$\pm$35.4 years. Regarding the pathology, there were 8 neurilemmomas(21.1%), 6 thymic cysts (15.8%), 5 teratomas(13.2%), 5 ganglioneuromas(13.2%), 4 bronchogenic cysts(10.5%), 3 pericardial cysts(7.9%), 3 thymomas(7.9%), and 2 lymphangiomas(5.3%). The mean operation time was 110.6$\pm$7.0 minutes, mean postoperative tube stay was 4.2$\pm$0.4 days, mean postoperative hospital stay was 5.2$\pm$0.4 days, and mean number of injection of analgesics was 1.9$\pm$0.4 times. Although the mean values for the above indices were less than those of the thoracotomy conversion cases, they were statistically insignificant. Postoperative complications of videoassisted thoracoscopic excision included chylothorax, prolonged air leakage, and unilateral phrenic nerve palsy, all of which recovered before patient discharge. There was, however, permanent unilateral ptosis in one patient. Conclusion : As video-assisted thoracoscopic excision of mediastinal mass is safe, less painful, conducive to earlier recovery and cosmetically more appealing, a more active application of this technique is recommeded.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.40-45
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• 1998

Recently, video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for mediastinal lesions has been considered a new effective therapeutic method. From March, 1992 to April, 1997, 33 cases of video assisted thoracoscopic surgery for mediastinal lesions were performed. Gender distribution was 16 males and 17 females. Average age was 42 years old(ranged from 14 to 69). The locations of lesions were anterior mediastinum in 14 cases, middle mediastinum in 5 cases, posterior mediastinum in 11 cases, and superior mediastinum in 3 cases. These included 9 neurilemmomas, 5 benign cystic teratoma, 4 pericardial cysts, 2 ganglioneuroma, 2 thymus, 2 thymic cyst, 1 thymoma, 2 esophageal leiomyomas, 1 dermoid cyst, 1 lipoma, 1 malignant lymphoma, 1 bronchogenic cyst, 1 pericardial effusion, and 1 Boerhaave's disease with empyema. Working window was needed in 6 cases. We converted to open thoracotomy in 6 cases. Reasons of convertion to open thoracotomy were large sized mass(1), severe adhesion(3), and difficult location to approach(2). The average operation time was 116min($\pm$56 min). The average chest tube drainage time was 4.7days. The average hospital stay was 8.7 days. Operative complications were atelectasis(2), empyema with mediastinitis(1), recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy(1), and plenic nerve palsy(1). In conclusion, VATS for mediastinal lesions were performed with shorter operation time and hospital stay, and lesser complications and pain than those of conventional thoracotomy.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.72-78
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• 2009

Background: Mediastinal neurogenic tumors are generally benign lesions and they are ideal candidates for performing resection via video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). However, benign neurogenic tumors at the thoracic apex present technical problems for the surgeon because of the limited exposure of the neurovascular structures, and the optimal way to surgically access these tumors is still a matter of debate. This study aims to clarify the feasibility and safety of the VATS approach for performing surgical resection of benign apical neurogenic tumors (ANT). Material and Method: From January 1996 to September 2008, 31 patients with benign ANT (15 males/16 females, mean age: 45 years, range: 8~73), were operated on by various surgical methods: 14 VATS, 10 lateral thoracotomies, 6 cervical or cervicothoracic incisions and 1 median sternotomy. 3 patients had associated von Recklinhausen's disease. The perioperative variables and complications were retrospectively reviewed according to the surgical approaches, and the surgical results of VATS were compared with those of the other invasive surgeries. Result: In the VATS group, the histologic diagnosis was schwannoma in 9 cases, neurofibroma in 4 cases and ganglioneuroma in 1 case, and the median tumor size was 4.3 cm (range: 1.2~7.0 cm). The operation time, amount of chest tube drainage and the postoperative stay in the VATS group were significantly less than that in the other invasive surgical group (p<0.05). No conversion thoracotomy was required. There were 2 cases of Hornor's syndrome and 2 brachial plexus neuropathies in the VATS group; there was 1 case of Honor's syndrome, 1 brachial plexus neuropathy, 1 vocal cord palsy and 2 non-neurologic complications in the invasive surgical group, and all the complications developed postoperatively. The operative method was an independent predictor for postoperative neuropathies in the VATS group (that is, non-enucleation of the tumor) (p=0.029). Conclusion: The VATS approach for treating benign ANT is a less invasive, safe and feasible method. Enucleation of the tumor during the VATS procedure may be an important technique to decrease the postoperative neurological complications.