Neuroblastoma
Neuroblastoma 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.
Neuroblastoma 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.
Neuroblastoma Diagnosis
Diagnosis of Neuroblastoma is usually confirmed by a neuropathologist. There are also innovative means of detecting Neuroblastoma like mIBG scan (meta-iodobenzylguanidine).
Neuroblastoma 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
Neuroblastoma 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.