Neuroblastoma

Neuroblastoma is a type of childhood cancer that develops from immature nerve cells, known as neuroblasts. It most commonly arises in the adrenal glands, located above the kidneys, but may also develop in the chest, abdomen, neck, or along the spine.

Clinical manifestations vary depending on the tumor’s location, but may include: a mass in the abdomen, chest, or neck; bone or joint pain; unexplained fever or weight loss; pallor; weakness; and ocular changes such as drooping eyelids, dark circles, or swelling around the eyes.

 Diagnostic evaluation includes blood and urine tests (to detect tumor markers), imaging studies (ultrasound, computed tomography [CT], magnetic resonance imaging [MRI], positron emission tomography combined with CT [PET/CT], or MIBG scanning), tumor biopsy to confirm histological type and characteristics, and bone marrow assessment.

 Treatment strategy depends on the patient’s risk group (low, intermediate, or high) and may involve surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, and stem cell transplantation.

 Statistics: Neuroblastoma occurs predominantly in children under the age of 5 and is the most common solid extracranial tumor in childhood.

 Heredity: The exact cause of neuroblastoma remains unknown. It is not related to parental actions or lifestyle. In rare cases, there may be a hereditary predisposition, but in the vast majority of patients, there is no family history of the disease.