Neuroblastoma

What is neuroblastoma?

Neuroblastoma is a type of cancer that grows in the nerve cells. It most often starts growing in the adrenal glands, but it can also start in other nerve cells of the body, such as the neck, chest, or spinal cord. The cancer can spread quickly to other parts of the body.

Neuroblastoma is most commonly diagnosed in infants and children under age 5. It is very rare in children over age 10. In some cases, the cancer may start growing even before a baby is born.

What are the signs and symptoms of neuroblastoma?

The symptoms of neuroblastoma can vary depending on where the cancer is growing and if it has spread. Some common symptoms in children may include:

• A lump in the belly, neck or chest
• Dark circles around the eyes
• Bone pain
• Irritability
• Weakness
• Fever
• High blood pressure

What causes neuroblastoma?

Neuroblastoma is caused by a mutation, or change, in the cells. In most cases, there is no known cause for the mutation. But in some cases, the mutation may be passed down from a parent to a child.

How is neuroblastoma treated?

Treatment options for neuroblastoma will depend on your child’s age, where the tumor is growing and if it has spread. Doctors will often base treatment on a child’s neuroblastoma risk group:

• Low-risk neuroblastoma: Children who have small tumors that are easy to remove may need only surgery. Sometimes, a child in this group may also need radiation therapy or chemotherapy to help shrink a tumor before it is removed.
• Intermediate-risk neuroblastoma: Children in this group may have larger tumors that have not spread. They are most often treated with a combination of surgery and chemotherapy. Sometimes they may also have radiation therapy.
• High-risk neuroblastoma: Children in this group have tumors that have spread to other parts of the body. It is usually treated with a combination of treatments that may include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, stem cell transplants and immunotherapy.

Your care team at Arkansas Children’s are experienced in treating neuroblastoma and will work with your family to come up with the best treatment plan for your child.