Neuroblastoma

It is a malignant (cancerous) tumor that originates from nerve tissue and occurs in infants and children. Is he more common tumor in young children.

Causes

The cause of the tumor is unknown. Neuroblastoma is most often diagnosed in children under the age of five. Affects 1 in 100,000 children and is more common in boys.

Neuroblastoma can occur in many areas of the body and develops from tissues that form the sympathetic nervous system, which is the part of the nervous system that controls body functions such as heart rate, blood pressure, digestion, and levels of certain hormones.

The most common location is in the abdomen, in the tissues of the adrenal gland.

Symptoms

The child presents a progressive poor general condition (weeks or months): paleness, tiredness and bad color. The abdomen may become larger and the child may complain of bone pain.

In many cases a palpable mass is observed by the pediatrician which is the alarm sign to diagnose the tumor.

The symptoms vary depending on the location of the tumor and can become very nonspecific: diarrhea, abnormal movements, nasal bleeding ...

To diagnose it, imaging tests must be performed: CT, magnetic resonance and specific analytical. Depending on the location, other diagnostic tests may be required: chest X-ray ...

Treatment

Treatment varies depending on where the tumor is located, the degree of dissemination and the age of the patient. In certain cases, surgery alone is sufficient, but other supportive treatments are often required: chemotherapy (anticancer drugs) and radiation therapy.

Forecast

The prognosis depends on the aggressiveness of the tumor and the age at which it is diagnosed. Each patient must be assessed individually.

Response to treatment is variable, although it tends to be quite successful if treatment is started before tumor spread; otherwise, if it has spread to other areas, neuroblastoma is much more difficult to cure.