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Diagnosing Neuroblastoma (Cancer)
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 and the position of the tumour.
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