Neuroblastoma of the posterior mediastinum in a 61-year-old woman

Abstract

Neuroblastoma is an embryonal tumour that evolves from the neural crest cell and rarely occurs in adults. Adult neuroblastoma is an uncommon malignancy that often pursues an aggressive clinical course, involves multiple sites, and has a poor prognosis. However, the prognosis of mediastinal neuroblastoma has been reported to be better than other neuroblastomas. We report a case of posterior mediastinal neuroblastoma differentiating type in a 61-year-old woman that was symptomatic and completely resected. Diagnosis was based on pathologic and immunohistochemical studies of the surgical specimen. Two years after the operation and without further treatment postoperatively, the patient showed no evidence of recurrence or metastasis.