Ganglioneuromas (GN) are rare, benign neurogenic tumors
that arise from sympathetic ganglia. They are often asymptomatic. However, in
rare cases, they may secrete catecholamines, vasoactive intestinal polypeptides
(VIP), or androgenic hormones and manifest with flushing, symptoms of
catecholamine excess or chronic diarrhea. We report a young Saudi girl with
chronic secretory diarrhea, severe hypokalemia and abdominal distension. After
an extensive work up, a well-defined hypodense heterogeneous mediastinalmass
was noted in radio imaging. A complete recovery was seen after surgical removal
of that mediastinal mass which turned to be a ganglioneuroma.
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