Neuroblastoma Treatment & Symptom

Neuroblastoma is a childhood cancer that grows in parts of the nervous system. It usually begins in the adrenal glands, which sit atop your kidneys. Tumors are most common in the nerve tissue in the neck, chest, abdomen, or pelvis. Neuroblastoma is often present at birth, but is most often diagnosed much later when the child begins to show symptoms of the disease. A condition known as "opsoclonus-myoclonus syndrome" can sometimes be a symptom of neuroblastoma. It is bursts of rapid and involuntary, chaotic eye movement in all directions. It's important to note that not all children with this syndrome have neuroblastoma. In the majority of cases (73%), neuroblastoma has already spread to areas outside of the original site at the time of diagnosis. Neuroblastoma most commonly affects children age 5 or younger, though it may rarely occur in older children and adults. Neuroblastoma is the most common cancer in babies. Neuroblastoma develops in tissue that makes up the sympathetic nervous system the system of nerves that automatically regulates your heart rate, blood pressure and digestion. Neuroblastomas usually form in one of two parts of the sympathetic nervous system the adrenal glands these glands in the abdomen produce the hormone adrenaline, which is released in an emergency to help the body react. When a neuroblastoma develops in the adrenal gland, it typically grows into a large, firm abdominal mass that can compress nearby organs; the chain of sympathetic ganglia these are collections of sympathetic nerves that lay near the backbone (spine). When a neuroblastoma develops along the sympathetic chain, it can invade nearby areas of the spine and cause injury to spinal nerves.

Neuroblastoma is a cancer of the sympathetic nervous system, a nerve network throughout the body that carries messages from the brain. Each year about 600 children in the United States will develop neuroblastoma. Generally developing in young children, it accounts for half of all malignancies in infants. Neuroblastoma usually begins very early in childhood, but is not usually diagnosed until symptoms appear. However, it may be detected in some cases during a fetal ultrasound. Unfortunately, neuroblastoma is normally diagnosed when the disease had spread to other parts of the body, like the bones, lymph nodes, skin and liver. Common treatment for neuroblastoma include radiation therapy, chemotherapy, surgery, and general waiting to see if symptoms appear/change. Several clinical trials are ongoing to research other treatment methods.

Causes of Neuroblastoma

Common Causes of Neuroblastoma :

• The cause of neuroblastoma is unknown, and no specific environmental exposure or risk factors have been identified.
• According to SEER, factors investigated for which evidence is limited or inconsistent include medications, hormones, birth characteristics, congenital anomalies, previous spontaneous abortion or fetal death, alcohol or tobacco use, and paternal occupational exposures.
• Because of young age of onset with this disease, investigators have focused on events before conception and during gestation.

Symptoms of Neuroblastoma

Some common Symptoms of Neuroblastoma :

• Bone pain .
• Dark circles around the eyes.
• Swollen stomach and trouble breathing in babies.
• Inability to move a body part.
• Unexplained weight loss.
• Back pain.
• Fever.
• Diarrhea.
• Flushed, red skin .

Treatment of Neuroblastoma

• Antibiotics (to prevent/treat infections).
• Radiation therapy uses high-energy rays to damage or kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. Radiation usually comes from a machine outside the body called external beam radiation therapy.
• Chemotherapy.
• Supportive care (for the side effects of treatment).
• Surgery (for tumor and/or metastatic resection, and removal of lymph nodes involved).
• Bone marrow transplant.