Results of surgery for a compound adrenal tumor consisting of pheochromocytoma and ganglioneuroblastoma in an adult: 5-year follow-up.

A rare, compound adrenal tumor consisting of ganglioneuroblastoma and pheochromocytoma was completely resected in an adult woman. Most of the tumor was occupied by the ganglioneuroblastoma component. This ganglioneuroblastoma was an intermixed tumor, which is known to have a favorable prognosis in children. Based on the lack of spread, the resectability of the tumor, and the histology of the ganglioneuroblastoma, no adjuvant therapy was employed. There was no evidence of recurrence at the 5-year follow-up. This suggests that adjuvant therapy may not be necessary in these compound tumors.