Definition:
Neuroblastoma is a neuroendocrine tumor, originating from any neural crest element of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS). The sympathetic nervous system is a branch of the autonomic nervous system. It is a nerve network responsible for carrying messages from the brain throughout the whole body. It is also the part of the brain responsible for fight-or-flight response and adrenaline or epinephrine production. Neuroblastoma commonly begins in one of the adrenal glands.
Diagnosis:
Diagnosis of Neuroblastoma is usually confirmed by a neuropathologist. There are also innovative means of detecting Neuroblastoma like mIBG scan (meta-iodobenzylguanidine).
Treatment:
Localized lesions are generally curable. Multimodal therapies are available including chemotherapy, surgery, radiation therapy, stem cell transplant, and immunotherapy; however, long-term survival for young children is poor even with the assistance of the therapies.
Symptoms and Signs:
Symptoms exhibited by Neuroblastoma depend on the location of the tumor. Other characteristics of the disorder include:
* Abdominal swelling
* Weight loss
* Pallor
* Lethargy
* Vulnerability to infections
* Lump in the neck if the tumor is present in that location
* Symptoms of adrenaline-secreting tumors include flushing, diarrhea, high blood pressure
* Tumor
Causes:
The cause of Neuroblastoma is still not yet known; thought medical experts believed that it is an accidental cell growth during normal adrenal gland development.
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