Characteristics of Benign Neuroblastic Tumors: Is Surgery Always Necessary?

This retrospective study of 53 pediatric patients identifies clinical and imaging characteristics that distinguish benign ganglioneuroma from more aggressive neuroblastic tumor variants, finding that older age, absence of calcifications, and lack of MIBG avidity predict benign histology. The authors propose observation as a viable alternative to upfront surgery for select asymptomatic patients with biopsy-proven ganglioneuroma, though 14% of resected patients experienced perioperative complications.