This is a cancer type that appears usually from immature nerve cells located in different body parts. Neuroblastoma commonly occurs around the adrenal glands and on the top of the kidneys because these organs have similar nerve cells. In any case, it can develop in other body parts where these nerve cells exist (such as the abdomen, chest, neck, and near the spine). This cancer type happens usually in children 5 years old or younger but it can happen in older children too (less commonly).
While some neuroblastoma types go away on their own, others need different treatment options. The treatment for this health problem depends on several factors.
Symptoms
The symptoms appear according to the body part that is affected. Check below some of them:
Abdominal Neuroblastoma (one of the most common types) can provoke the following symptoms. Examples include:
- Bowel habits changes (including diarrhea, constipation, and others)
- Pain in the abdomen
- A mass that appears under the skin
Chest Neuroblastoma causes usually the following symptoms. These include:
- Wheezing
- Pain in the chest
- Eye changes (such as drooping eyelids, unequal pupil size, and others)
Check below for other neuroblastoma symptoms:
- Fever
- Back pain
- Unusual weight loss
- Dark circles around the eyes
- Bone pain
- Proptosis
- Lumps under the skin
If you experience any of the previous symptoms, seek medical care immediately.
Causes
Generally, cancers start with a DNA mutation that makes cells grow abnormally. Therefore, these cells form tumors. This cancer type starts in the neuroblasts (immature nerve cells). However, experts do not fully understand the exact cause of DNA changes that provoke this cancer form.
Risk Factors
Your risk of developing neuroblastoma increases when you have a family history of this cancer type. In any case, some neuroblastoma cases have not identified the exact cause.
Complications
- Metastasis (spread of the cancer cells throughout the body) – Neuroblastoma can spread to other body parts including lymph nodes, bone marrow, skin, bones, and other parts of the body.
- Spinal cord compression – Certain large tumors put pressure on the spinal cord provoking compression. The common symptoms of this complication include pain and paralysis.
- Tumor secretions symptoms – Cancerous cells can release some chemicals that irritate other healthy tissues. In such cases, it leads to paraneoplastic syndromes. These include rapid eye movements, difficulty with coordination, abnormal swelling, and diarrhea.
Diagnosis
Healthcare professionals usually diagnose this cancer type by performing the following tests. Examples include:
- Physical examination – During this examination, doctors will check you or your child for neuroblastoma symptoms and will ask questions about medical and family history.
- Blood and urine tests – One potential way to determine neuroblastoma is blood and urine tests. People with neuroblastoma have increased levels of catecholamines in the blood.
- Imaging tests – These tests include X-ray, ultrasound, CT scans, metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) scans, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and others. These tests can identify tumors provoked by this cancer type.
- Biopsy – This is a test in which doctors remove a small sample of a tumor and send it to the laboratory to be checked for cancerous cells.
- Marrow biopsy – In such cases, physicians also remove a sample of tissue for lab tests but of bone marrow.
Treatment
The treatment option usually is different among patients and it depends on the following factors. For example child’s age, stage of cancer, chromosome abnormalities, gene changes, and others. However, doctors often prescribe a combination of treatments to treat cancer. Check below some treatment options commonly involved in the cancer treatment:
Surgery
Physicians usually recommend this treatment to remove cancer cells. Moreover, in children with low-risk neuroblastoma, the surgery to remove the tumor is only needed treatment. In some cases, it is not possible to remove completely the tumors because are near essential organs such as the lungs or spinal cord. Thus, the risks outweigh the benefits. However, the surgeon will remove as much as possible but you may need additional treatments to destroy remaining cancer cells. For example chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and others.
Chemotherapy
This treatment option involves strong medications used to kill cancerous tumors. However, these medicines also damage healthy cells including those of hair follicles, gastrointestinal system, and others.
This is an effective treatment that helps to prevent the spreading of cancer and for people with high-risk neuroblastoma. Doctors usually prescribe chemotherapy before surgery or bone marrow transplant.
Radiation Therapy
This therapy uses powerful energy beams (such as X-rays) to kill cancer cells. Physicians usually advise this procedure when chemotherapy does not work or to prevent the recurrence of the cancer.
Bone Marrow Transplant
People with high-risk neuroblastoma can receive a transplant by using stem cells obtained from bone marrow (autologous stem cell transplant). Before this procedure, doctors will filter and collect stem cells from the child’s blood, which are stored for later use. A bone marrow transplant is usually performed after radiation or chemotherapy. Then, stem cells are injected into the body to form new healthy blood cells.
Immunotherapy
Sometimes, the body’s defense (immune system) cannot destroy cancer cells because they produce a substance that helps hide them. In such cases, doctors may prescribe some medicines that boost the immune system to kill the cancerous tumors.
New Treatments
Experts now studying a new treatment option that can help to control high-risk neuroblastoma. It uses a radioactive form of a chemical called metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG). Doctors inject this radioactive substance into the body. It works by releasing the radiation when metaiodobenzylguanidine reaches the neuroblastoma cells. Moreover, MIBG therapy can be used along with chemotherapy or a bone marrow transplant.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can neuroblastoma be cured?
There is a 90% chance to cure this cancer type with early diagnosis and treatment in children with low- or intermediate-risk neuroblastoma.
What are the primary symptoms of neuroblastoma?
The symptoms can be different among patients because it depends on the severity and stage of the cancer, the size of the tumors, and other factors. Check below the most common neuroblastoma symptoms:
- Weight loss
- Bone pain
- Bowel movement or urinating problems
- Swallowing or breathing issues
- Swelling that usually happens in the legs, upper chest, neck, and face
- Lump or swelling in the abdomen
If you notice that your child experiences any of the previous symptoms, it is advised to see a doctor immediately.
What are the potential neuroblastoma complications?
- Fertility problems
- Lung disorders
- Redness or flushing of the skin
- Heart issues
- Hyperhidrosis
- Second cancers
- Deafness
- Loss of balance
- Inability to empty the bladder
If you have additional questions, ask your healthcare professional.
