OncoLink in English
Tipos de C�ncer > Cánceres Pediátricos > Neuroblastoma > Descripción
Neuroblastoma: Overview
Neha Vapiwala, MD and John P. Plastaras, MD, PhD
Affiliation:
The Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania
Ultima Vez Modificado: 22 de agosto del 2007
What Is Neuroblastoma?
Neuroblastoma is a tumor of nerve tissue that under the microscope, looks like "small, round, blue" cells and may appear similar to several other childhood tumors to the untrained eye. Neuroblastoma most commonly arises in the abdomen (the adrenal glands, which sit on top of the kidneys), but can also start in the neck, chest, or pelvis. Unfortunately, regardless of where it starts, by the time it is diagnosed the cancer has often spread (metastasized) throughout the body, usually to the lymph nodes, liver, lungs, bones, and bone marrow.
Who Gets Neuroblastoma?
Neuroblastoma is the most common non-cranial solid pediatric tumor. It is mainly a tumor of infancy and early childhood. Infact, the majority of neuroblastoma cases are diagnosed in children younger than 5 years of age. It is rarely found in children older than 10 years. Actually, the tumor is often present at birth but not detected until later, when it has grown to a noticeable size and/or starts to cause symptoms.
So What Are The Symptoms?
The typical symptoms of neuroblastoma are pain- and pressure-related. They occur when the tumor grows and exerts pressure on surrounding organs or within bone. A trademark sign of eye involvement by tumor cells is a young child with bulging eyes and dark circles under the eyes ("raccoon eyes"). Neuroblastomas can push on the spinal cord and lead to paralysis. Systemic findings are rare but may include fever, anemia, and high blood pressure. Occasionally, children with neuroblastoma may have severe watery diarrhea, jerky muscle spasms, or uncontrollable eye movement.