Retroperitoneal ganglioneuroma: report of a case diagnosed by fine-needle aspiration cytology, with review of the literature.

A case of ganglioneuroma presenting as a retroperitoneal mass in a 5-yr-old girl was diagnosed by preoperative fine-needle aspiration cytology. The cytologic smears predominantly showed clusters of Schwann cells, with scattered mature ganglion cells. The cytologic diagnosis of ganglioneuroma was subsequently confirmed on histopathologic examination. To date, very few reports on the cytologic features of this tumor exist. The importance of considering a confident diagnosis by cytology, and of the uncommon age group that may be affected, is stressed. Diagn. Cytopathol. 1999;21:194-196. Copyright 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.