A case of an 11 year old girl who has three years history of deformity on her back with no neurological symptoms is presented. Initially diagnosing the disease as juvenile idiopalhic scoliosis, a two staged procedure consisting of an anterior instrumentation and fusion as a second stage, were planned. In spite of the fact that there was a block at L3 level at lumbar myelographic examination, her CT scans were interpreted as mechanical obstruction due to spinal deformity. A retroperitoneal mass, extending into the spinal canal through intervertebral foraminae in a dumb-bell fashion, could only be seen at the first stage operation. Microscopic examination of the tumor indicated a ganglioneuroma. Laminectomy of nine vertebral levels had to be performed so as to resect all epidural extensions of the mass.
At her three months follow-up, she is still wearing a Risser Cast with no trace of reoccurrence on CT scan.
Keywords: Thoracolumbar Scoliosis, Ganglioneuroma.