A 10-year-old girl from Kutch, Gujarat, had been experiencing persistent pelvic pain for over two months. Initial evaluation and surgery were conducted locally under the assumption of an ovarian mass. However, intraoperatively, the tumor was found to be densely adherent to the intestines and blood vessels, making it too risky to remove. One month later, as the pain persisted and follow-up sonography showed the tumor remained, the child was referred to GCS Hospital, Ahmedabad for advanced care.
At GCS Hospital, detailed imaging (MRI) revealed a rare, non-cancerous neural tumor called Presacral Ganglioneuroma — a condition so uncommon that fewer than 30 cases have been reported globally, across both adults and children. Of these, only around 6–8 cases involved pediatric patients, making this case exceptionally rare and medically significant.
The tumor had arisen deep within the pelvic cavity near the bladder and rectum, with a size of 10 x 10 x 7.5 cm, making surgical excision technically challenging due to the high risk of damaging nerves responsible for urinary and bowel control.
A multidisciplinary team led by Dr. Sanket Desai (Consultant – Surgical Oncology) and Dr. Jatin Jadav (Pediatric Surgeon) performed a complex and meticulous surgery, successfully removing the entire tumor while preserving the child’s bladder and rectal functions. The girl is now fully healthy and recovering without complications.
What is Presacral Ganglioneuroma?
Presacral Ganglioneuromas are rare tumors that arise from sympathetic nervous tissue. They are benign but can grow silently to large sizes before causing symptoms. Globally, these tumors have been reported in the spine, retroperitoneum, and pelvis — but presacral occurrences, particularly in children, are extraordinarily rare.
Pediatric-Specific Data:
A review of global literature shows that only about 6–8 pediatric cases of presacral ganglioneuroma have been documented worldwide so far. This makes the 10-year-old patient’s successful treatment at GCS Hospital one of the few globally known examples — and an important clinical achievement in pediatric surgical care.
Largest Known Case Globally:
Medical literature highlights one of the largest ganglioneuromas measured 23 × 20 × 13 cm, surgically removed in the U.S., demonstrating how silent yet massive these tumors can become.
🇮🇳 Previous Notable Case in India:
In 2016, a 14-year-old child in Pondicherry was diagnosed with a 14 × 11 × 10 cm presacral ganglioneuroma and successfully treated via a transabdominal extraperitoneal approach — underscoring the surgical challenge and rarity of such cases.
This successful treatment at GCS Hospital adds to India’s growing medical milestones in rare pediatric tumors and affirms the hospital’s position as a trusted center for high-risk surgical excellence.
