Primary cervical ganglioneuroblastoma: A case report

RATIONALE: Ganglioneuroblastoma is usually located in the adrenal gland, retroperitoneal ganglia, or posterior mediastinum, but rarely occurs in the parapharyngeal space. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 4-year-old girl presented with complaint of progressive inspiratory dyspnea and dysphagia, accompanying left-side Horner's syndrome. DIAGNOSE: Computed tomography (CT) scan revealed a giant mass with irregular low density in left oropharyngeal and posterior pharyngeal wall. The left carotid artery sheath was pushed to the right. After enhancement, the central part of the mass was strengthened, and the surrounding bones structures appeard normal. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a solid mass in the left parapharyngeal space displacing the left carotid sheath posteriorly and laterally. A ganglioneuroblastoma was diagnosed. INTERVATIONS: The girl was treated by surgery. OUTCOMES: The postoperative course was uneventful. There was no recurrence was observed during the 1-year follow-up. LESSONS: The primary cervical ganglioneuroblastoma is rare, we recommended the ganglioneuroblastoma should be considered in the differential diagnosis of a child presenting with a parapharyngeal space mass.