Headache as an Unusual Presenting Symptom of Retropharyngeal Ganglioneuroma
- 1 January 2002
- journal article
- case report
- Published by Taylor & Francis Ltd in Acta Oto-Laryngologica
- Vol. 122 (5), 565-568
- https://doi.org/10.1080/00016480260092426
Abstract
Ganglioneuromas are rare benign neurogenous neoplasms. The clinical symptoms of ganglioneuromas of the neck are usually mild and non-specific and definitive diagnosis requires a histological examination. We present the case of a 35-year-old female who complained of retroauricular pain as her first symptom and who was initially diagnosed with migraine. ENT examination revealed a bulging of the left pharyngeal wall. Fine-needle aspiration biopsy was misleading in terms of diagnosis. Histology after extirpation showed a ganglioneuroma. Ganglion cell differentiation was proven using the new intermediate filament class alpha-internexin immunohistochemical staining technique. Headache is an uncharacteristic symptom of ganglioneuroma and an interdisciplinary approach is required to find a possible cause. Periauricular pain without abnormal otoscopic findings should lead the otorhinolaryngologist to consider a retropharyngeal condition, especially if combined with dysphagia. Complete resection of the tumor using modern microsurgical techniques is the best way to extract ganglioneuroma today.Keywords
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