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Neuroblastoma

Definition

Neuroblastoma (noor-oh-blas-TOME-ah) is the second most common solid tumor in childhood after brain tumors. The median age of diagnosis is two years and 85 percent of children diagnosed are less than 5. This tumor can arise in many parts of the body.

Getting Diagnosed / Treatment

Neuroblastoma is treated at the U-M Cancer Center in the Pediaric Hematology Oncology Clinic.

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What are the symptoms of neuroblastoma?

Neuoroblastoma usually has symptoms such as fever, general discomfort or pain. Neuroblastoma can present with a hard painless mass in the neck; as an incidental finding on a chest x-ray, or as a mass that can be felt in the abdomen. When the tumor has spread, children may develop bone pain or weakness and refuse to walk. The most common places of spread include lymph (limf) nodes, bone marrow, bone, liver and skin. Most neuroblastomas produce catecholamines (KAT-eh-kol-ah-mins) which are biologically active substances that can be found in the urine of children with this disease.

How is neuroblastoma treated?

When neuroblastoma is diagnosed early before it has spread the prognosis is excellent, often with surgical removal alone. Unfortunately, the majority of children are diagnosed when the disease is widespread. These children have a poor prognosis even with aggressive treatment. The outlook has been improved somewhat with combination chemotherapy, radiation, surgery and in some cases, bone marrow transplant. It is very important that children suspected of having neuroblastoma be cared for at a hospital where doctors that specialize in the care of children with cancer can be found, such as the University of Michigan.

How can I get more information about neuroblastoma?

E-mail a nurse

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