Neuroblastoma is a cancer of the sympathetic nervous system, a nerve network throughout the body which carries messages from the brain. (See a picture and description of the sympathetic nervous system on the Dr. Eric Chudler's Neuroscience for Kids pages.)
Neuroblastoma is a solid, malignant tumor which manifests as a lump or mass in the abdomen or around the spinal cord in the chest, neck, or pelvis.

Neuroblastoma is often present at birth, but is most often diagnosed much later when the child begins to show symptoms of the disease. A condition known as "opsoclonus-myoclonus syndrome" can sometimes be a symptom of neuroblastoma. It is bursts of rapid and involuntary, chaotic eye movement in all directions. It's important to note that not all children with this syndrome have neuroblastoma. In the majority of cases (73%), neuroblastoma has already spread.

Diagnosis of neuroblastoma can be complicated. It has been called the "great masquerader" because its symptoms mimic so many other diseases. Even a pathological study (biopsy) might reveal cells that can resemble other small round blue tumor cells, like lymphomas and rhabdomyosarcomas. Only a pathologist familiar with neuroblastoma can distinguish the difference (and neuroblastoma is rare). Other characteristics of the suspected neuroblastoma cells can be studied by immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy.
 
  • 5%-7% of all childhood malignancies
  • about 1 in 6000 children will be diagnosed with neuroblastoma by the age of five
  • 1 in 100,000 per year in US
  • The average age at diagnosis is two
  • About 25% of newly diagnosed neuroblastomas are found in children under the age of one
  • Children under the age of one have a cure rate as high as 90%
  • for every 6 cases in male children there are 5 in females.
  • approximately 650 new cases are diagnosed each year
  • In 7 out of 10 cases the disease is not diagnosed until it has already spread.

This information is from Ped-Onc Resource Center

For more information on Neuroblastoma please visit
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