Neuroblastoma is the most common
cancer in infancy and the highest
occurring extracranial solid cancer
in childhood. Fifty percent of all
cases occur in children younger than
two years old - with an annual
incidence rate of about 650 new
cases per year.
The cancer hits a series of
specialized nerve cells referred to
as neural crest cells (important in
the development of the nervous
system as well as other tissues).
Specifically Neuroblastoma usually
develops in the adrenal gland in the
abdomen, located above the kidneys,
however the cancer can develop in
other areas of the body. For
instance in children, neuroblastoma
has been found in the neck, chest
and also in the area around the
spinal cord.
Symptoms:
- Abdominal cases may result in
swelling and children may complain
of constipation
Abdominal cases may also result in
your child having a difficult time
passing urine
- Neuroblastoma cases affecting the
chest area may result in your child
having a difficult time breathing or
swallowing
- Neck cases may be visible as a lump
(or bump) and can result in
difficulty breathing or swallowing
- Cases where neuroblastoma grows
around the spinal cord (pressing
down) can result in the child having
trouble walking, or weakness in the
legs.
Diagnosis:
A doctor may order x-rays, CT or MRI
scans, bone marrow tests and blood
tests to locate the position of
neuroblastoma within the body and to
see whether it has spread.
The doctor will also order a urine
test - which has a good chance of
confirming the diagnosis (9 in 10
times) - by detecting the presence
of vanillylmandelic acid (VMA), or
homovanillic acid (HVA).
The doctor may also order an mIBG
(meta-iodo-benzyl guanidine) scan
helps visualize the tumor. This is
done through the injection of a
radioactive iodine sample which has
a high affinity to the tumor.
A biopsy of the actual tumor may
also be done to allow examination of
the sample under a microscope.
Treatment:
The choice of treatment for tumors
that have not spread is surgery. If
the position of the tumor makes it
difficult to get to by way of
surgery, the specialist may
recommend chemotherapy as the means
of treatment.
For more advance forms of cancer,
radiotherapy may be the best option.
The actual choice of treatment will
depend on a number of factors such
as the age of the child, the
position of the tumour and whether
or .
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