Rationale: Adult recurrent neuroblastoma is extremely rare, especially in the posterior mediastinum and retroperitoneal cavity. The surgical treatment of this special part of the tumor is also a clinical difficulty.
Patient concerns: This study reports a case of a 24-year-old man with a history of treated posterior mediastinal neuroblastoma. Enhanced computed tomography found a heterogeneously enhancing mass occupying the retroperitoneal and posterior mediastinum, and the initial impression was recurrent neuroblastoma.
Diagnoses: The patient was diagnosed with recurrent neuroblastoma based on his medical history and histopathological results.
Interventions: The young adult underwent radical resection of recurrent neuroblastoma in posterior mediastinum and retroperitoneum through thoracoabdominal incision.
Outcomes: The young patient recovered to normal within 10 days after surgery and had no relapse for following-up 12 months.
Lessons: Despite the difficulty of surgery, it is feasible to remove the tumor in the posterior mediastinum and retroperitoneal cavity safely.