DUMBBELL NEUROBLASTOMA OR GANGLIONEUROMA OF THE SPINAL CANAL

¹ Assistant Professor of Radiology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas.
² Professor of Radiology and Pediatrics, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas.

Four cases of neuroblastoma or ganglioneuroma presenting as dumbbell or hourglass tumors of the spinal canal are reported.

It is suggested that when such a roentgenographic configuration is encountered in an infant or young child, the first diagnostic considerations be neuroblastoma or ganglioneuroma. This is most important since the early clinical findings may be mild and nonspecific. In other cases, neurologic findings may so overshadow the clinical picture, that the initial diagnostic considerations are those of primary spinal cord tumor or some other primary spinal cord problem.

The differential diagnosis includes metastatic neuroblastoma to the spine, histiocytosis X of the spine, tuberculous or pyogenic osteomyelitis, neurofibroma and other spinal tumors, and generalized neurofibromatosis. Roentgenographic differentiation of these lesions is usually readily accomplished, and, thereafter, one can usually suggest the correct diagnosis.

CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?