[Retroperitoneal neuroblastoma in the adult: case report and review of the literature].
Retroperitoneal neuroblastoma is a rare embryonic tumor of the sympathetic nervous system that is specific to the child. In this study, the case is reported of an infant who underwent median laparotomy at the age of 14 months for a tumor which occupied the left half of the abdomen. The lesion was large, hard, and not very mobile. It was considered to be unresectable, and the histological findings after biopsy showed it to be a neuroblastoma. Radiotherapy was then initiated, which successfully reduced the tumor size. A second investigation at the age of three years detected an unresectable tumor of 5 cm. A further biopsy was performed, and the histological findings showed the lesion to be a partially developed ganglioneuroblastoma. The patient has been followed up regularly by ultrasonography which has shown no increase in tumor size. She is now 20 years old, and is asymptomatic. The last computed tomography scan visualized a 62-mm retroperitoneal mass with no metastases. Surgery was decided against in favor of regular monitoring. This case is particular due to the prolonged survival of the patient, regression of histological stage, and reduction in size of the tumor after radiotherapy. It is remarkable that the diagnosis of neuroblastoma was made when the patient was 14 months old, and that she is still alive at 20 years old.
Ben Moualli
S
S
Service d'urologie, hôpital Charles-Nicolle, Tunis, Tunisie.
Hajri
M
M
Derouiche
A
A
Bacha
K
K
Chebil
M
M
Ayed
M
M
D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D009447:Neuroblastoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D012186:Retroperitoneal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D013534:Survival; D016896:Treatment Outcome