Symptoms of Neuroblastoma

Written by Kang Li
Neurosurgery
Updated on September 03, 2024
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Typical symptoms of neuroblastoma include anemia and fatigue, excitement, no weight gain or weight loss, or irregular fever. The initial symptoms in the course of a short disease are not typical. Early diagnosis is difficult. Nonspecific symptoms include fatigue, loss of appetite, fever, joint pain. Those occurring within the skull display a bit of central nervous system cursing symptoms and symptoms of intracranial hypertension. Main manifestation. Occurrence outside the skull depends on the location of the tumor and the metastatic sites. Involvement of the thoracic cavity can cause chest and back pain and difficulty breathing, involvement of the abdominal cavity is characterized by abdominal distension, constipation, dysentery, and involvement of the spinal canal manifests as reduced strength in the trunk and limbs, and motor and sensory disturbances.

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Written by Chen Yu Fei
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Neuroblastoma treatment

Neuroblastoma is relatively considered a malignant tumor, and its growth rate is quite rapid. It often adheres to surrounding tissues in the early stages, which makes it very difficult to completely remove surgically. However, even so, it is still advisable to opt for surgical treatment once neuroblastoma is detected. The tumor should be completely removed surgically, and a small amount of tumor tissue should be retained for pathological examination after removal. Based on the results of the pathological examination, it will be determined whether additional treatments such as radiotherapy or chemotherapy are needed. Furthermore, since some neuroblastomas are sensitive to radiotherapy, it is recommended to promptly take the patient to a local hospital for treatment after surgery.

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Written by Chen Yu Fei
Neurosurgery
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Is neuroblastoma serious?

Neuroblastoma is relatively serious and is classified as a highly malignant tumor, one of the epithelial cell tumors. The disease often leads to severe intracranial pressure increases, manifesting as intense headaches, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, and even possible optic disc edema, vision loss, and visual field defects. The occurrence of neuroblastoma often indicates a poor prognosis for patients, with a short disease duration and reduced survival time. The five-year survival rate is decreased. Treatment primarily involves surgical intervention to completely remove the neuroblastoma, followed by postoperative radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and other related treatments.

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Written by Gao Yi Shen
Neurosurgery
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Is calcification of neuroblastoma good?

In clinical practice, although calcification is a relatively favorable phenomenon, the overall condition of neuroblastoma does not change significantly because of it. Therefore, it is still not a good sign. For neuroblastoma, whether calcification occurs or not, it remains a form of tumor. Only through early surgical treatment can the problem be fundamentally resolved, otherwise, there is a tendency for recurrence and metastasis to occur later on. Moreover, it is important to note that regardless of whether the tumor calcifies, its nature does not change. Only fundamental treatment can bring better hope, so calcification does not lead to very good outcomes.

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Written by Chen Yu Fei
Neurosurgery
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Causes of Neuroblastoma

Currently, there is no definitive conclusion about the specific causes of neuroblastoma, but most scholars believe that the occurrence of neuroblastoma is the result of congenital genetic factors combined with acquired factors. For patients with neuroblastoma, there is often a family history of genetic diseases showing a familial clustering tendency. In addition, poor living environments and habits, including exposure to radioactive contamination or prolonged exposure to electromagnetic radiation, may also contribute to the development of neuroblastoma.

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Written by Chen Yu Fei
Neurosurgery
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How is neuroblastoma diagnosed?

For patients with neuroblastoma, diagnosis is primarily through the symptoms, signs, detailed physical examinations, medical history inquiries, and most importantly, radiological data, which includes CT scans or MRI of the head. Definitive diagnosis requires surgical removal of the tumor. A small amount of tumor tissue is retained after excision and used for pathological examination to confirm the diagnosis. Neuroblastoma is categorized as an epithelial-like malignant tumor, indicative of a high degree of malignancy. In most cases, early in the disease, the tumor adheres to surrounding tissues, which greatly complicates complete surgical removal, and most patients have a poor prognosis.