Dumbbell ganglioneuromas in childhood.

The incidence of dumbbell tumors among spinal neoplasms is between 10% and 15%. Approximately 1% of neoplasms located at or near the spinal cord are ganglioneuromas. Ganglioneuromas are rare, slow-growing, benign tumors arising from sympathetic ganglia. The cases of two children with spinal dumbbell ganglioneuroma are presented. The tumors were totally resected by combined surgery in both patients. The patients are neurologically intact 5 and 4 years respectively after surgery.