Neuroblastoma is a cancer that develops from immature nerve cells found in several areas of the body. Neuroblastoma most commonly arises in and around the adrenal glands, which have similar origins to nerve cells and sit atop the kidneys. However, neuroblastoma can also develop in other areas of the abdomen and in the chest, neck and near the spine, where groups of nerve cells exist.
Neuroblastoma most commonly affects children age 5 or younger, though it may rarely occur in older children.
Some forms of neuroblastoma go away on their own, while others may require multiple treatments. Your child's neuroblastoma treatment options will depend on several factors.
Symptoms:
Neuroblastoma in the abdomen — the most common form — may cause signs and symptoms such as:
• Abdominal pain
• A mass under the skin that isn't tender when touched
• Changes in bowel habits, such as diarrhea or constipation
Neuroblastoma in the chest may cause signs and symptoms such as:
• Wheezing
• Chest pain
• Changes to the eyes, including drooping eyelids and unequal pupil size
Other signs:
• Lumps of tissue under the skin
• Eyeballs that seem to protrude from the sockets (proptosis)
• Dark circles, similar to bruises, around the eyes
• Back pain
• Fever
• Unexplained weight loss
• Bone pain
Courtesy: Mayo Clinic
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