J Korean Soc Radiol.  2013 Feb;68(2):153-156. 10.3348/jksr.2013.68.2.153.

Ganglioneuroma of Lumbar Nerve Root: A Case Report

• Jeong M
• Lee S
• Joo KB
• Jang KS
• Bae J

• KMID: 2097993
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3348/jksr.2013.68.2.153

Abstract

Ganglioneuroma is a rare, benign, slow-growing, well-differentiated tumor consisting of ganglion cells and Schwann cells. Ganglioneuromas originate from neural crest cells and can affect any part of the sympathetic tissue from the skull base to the pelvis. However, ganglioneuroma occurring in the nerve root is extremely rare. We describe a 50-year-old man with ganglioneuroma involving the right 5th lumbar nerve root. The ganglioneuroma showed intermediate signal intensity on the T1-weighted image and high signal intensity on the T2-weighted image with homogeneous enhancement on the gadolinium-enhanced T1-weighted image.

MeSH Terms

Ganglion Cysts
Ganglioneuroma
Neural Crest
Pelvis
Schwann Cells
Skull Base

Figure

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  Fig. 1 A 50-year-old man with ganglioneuroma. A, B. Axial T1 weighted (A) and T2 weighted images (B) show a lobulated mass (arrows) with intermediate signal intensity on the T1 weighted image and high signal intensity on the T2 weighted image along the right 5th lumbar nerve root. C. Homogeneous enhancement was observed along the right 5th lumbar nerve root (arrows) on the axial contrast-enhanced T1-weighted image. D. Coronal contrast-enhanced T1-weighted image shows a lobulated mass (arrows) arising from the right 5th lumbar nerve root with homogeneous enhancement. E. Axial 18F-FDG PET-CT image reveals a lobulated mass (arrow) with mildly increased FDG uptake (SUVmax: 1.86) in the right 5th lumbar nerve root. F. Hematoxylin and Eosin photomicrograph (× 400) shows mature ganglion cells (arrows) scattered in spindle cell stroma. Note.-18F-FDG PET-CT = fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography-computed tomography, SUVmax = maximum standardized uptake value

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