Neuroblastoma (neuroblastoma) is a malignant neoplasm of the sympathetic nervous system, which belongs to the group of childhood cancers. Neuroblastoma is one of the most common neoplasms of the sympathetic nervous system in children and the most common cancer diagnosed in infants. What are the causes and symptoms of neuroblastoma? What is the treatment?

Neuroblastoma , otherwiseneuroblastoma, neuroblastomaorsympathetic ganglion , it's malignant a tumor of the sympathetic (sympathetic) nervous system - a part of the peripheral nervous system that plays a primary role in stressful situations, in circumstances causing emotional tension, requiring full mobilization of the body.

Neuroblastoma is one of the most common neoplasms of the sympathetic nervous system in children and the most common cancer diagnosed in infants. In Poland, 70-80 new cases are diagnosed annually (more often in boys than in girls).

Neuroblastoma: causes

The cause of neuroblastoma are disturbances in the formation of the nervous system that occur in the embryonic period, and then in utero. Cancer develops from primary cells of the nervous system (neuroblasts), which normally develop into the sympathetic ganglia and the adrenal medulla.

Neuroblastoma: symptoms

The symptoms of neuroblastoma depend on where the tumor is located. And this one can develop wherever there are elements of the sympathetic nervous system, that is, practically all over the body. However, most often (about 80% of cases) it develops in the abdominal cavity. Then the following appear:

  • anorexic
  • vomiting
  • deteriorating nutritional status
  • stomach pains
  • palpable hard, immobile tumor in the abdomen

Other possible locations are:

  • spine - back pain, decreased muscle tone, weakened or increased reflexes, muscle atrophy, paresis and limb paralysis;

Neuroblastoma most often metastasizes to bones, liver and skin.

  • neck - symptoms of Horner's syndrome (constriction of the pupil, rupturethe eyeball into the eye socket, drooping eyelid), palpable lump;
  • eye socket and eyeball - exophthalmos, strabismus, hematomas around the eye sockets (so-called spectacle hematomas);
  • chest - in the case of a tumor located in the upper part of the chest, shortness of breath, cough, stridor, chest pain, dysphagia, neck swelling, recurrent pneumonia appear. The tumor located at the back of the chest usually develops asymptomatically;
  • minor pelvis - difficulties in passing stool and urine;

The symptoms resulting from the location of the tumor are accompanied by general symptoms resulting from the excessive production of catecholamines (a group of hormones produced by the adrenal glands), such as: increased heart rate, increase in blood pressure, excessive sweating, redness face.

Neuroblastoma - diagnosis

  • palpation - to determine the presence of a tumor (in the case of the small pelvis, the most accurate examination will beper rectum)
  • imaging tests - ultrasound, computed tomography with contrast, X-ray or magnetic resonance (depending on the location of the tumor)
  • bone marrow biopsy - examination of the bone marrow to determine the presence or absence of cancer cells
  • urine test
  • blood test
  • tumor collection for histopathological, immunohistochemical and cytogenetic examination

During diagnosis, other diseases should be excluded, such as Wilms' tumor, pheochromocytoma or adrenal cortex cancer.

Neuroblastoma - treatment

The method of cancer treatment depends on its stage:

Cancer may regress spontaneously in infants under the age of one.

  • excision of the tumor and lymph nodes (if occupied)
  • chemotherapy
  • radiation therapy
  • autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation of bone marrow or peripheral blood
  • immunotherapy with anti-G2 antibodies

In addition, the patient is given drugs that inhibit the formation of blood vessels within the tumor.

Neuroblastoma - prognosis

If the disease is diagnosed at an early stage of development, the 5-year survival rate in children under the age of 1 is approximately 90%, and in children over 1 year of age approximately 65%.

It is worth knowing that the worst prognosis comes from a tumor located within the abdominal cavity.

Category:

Oncology