How do you get neuroblastoma?

Written by Chen Yu Fei
Neurosurgery
Updated on September 30, 2024
00:00
00:00

Currently, there is no consensus on the specific causes of neuroblastoma. In most cases, it is believed to be caused by the failure of primitive myeloid epithelial cells to continue differentiating, which is somewhat linked to congenital genetic factors. Additionally, poor lifestyle choices and exposure to certain chemical carcinogens, including long-term exposure to radiation, can potentially lead to neuroblastoma. Neuroblastoma is a highly malignant tumor that generally grows and develops rapidly. It often adheres to surrounding tissues in the early stages of the disease, making complete surgical removal quite difficult, and typically has a poor prognosis.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Chen Yu Fei
Neurosurgery
45sec home-news-image

Causes of Neuroblastoma

Neuroblastoma is a highly malignant tumor. In most cases, it is seen in neuroepithelial cells. Currently, there is no consensus on the specific causes of neuroblastoma. It is generally believed that congenital genetic factors, as well as mutations, gene deletions, and changes in tumor suppressor genes in patients, are greatly related. Acquired factors should not be ignored either, such as poor lifestyle and dietary habits. In most cases, the prognosis for neuroblastoma is poor, with patients having a short survival period. Most patients, even after undergoing surgical treatment, often experience poor outcomes and ultimately die from multi-organ dysfunction and failure.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Chen Yu Fei
Neurosurgery
48sec home-news-image

Neuroblastoma examination items

For neuroblastoma, the examination items mainly include the patient's vital signs and physical examination, including detailed examinations to observe if there are any obvious pathological signs. Additionally, it is necessary to inquire about the patient’s medical history, especially past medical history and family history. Main examination items include laboratory tests, routine blood and urine tests, biochemistry, and tumor-related tests. Furthermore, examinations also involve using a cranial CT scan, MRI of the head, and if necessary, an enhanced MRI scan of the head, to further determine the presence of neuroblastoma, as well as its location, quantity, and the relationship between the surrounding tissues, blood vessels, and nerves.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Chen Yu Fei
Neurosurgery
44sec home-news-image

Can neuroblastoma be cured?

Neuroblastoma is a malignant tumor that often grows rapidly. In the early stages of the disease, it can easily invade surrounding tissues and nerves, making it very difficult to completely remove the tumor through surgery. In most cases, even after surgical treatment, there is a high tendency for recurrence in children, making it difficult to achieve a clinical cure. For most patients with neuroblastoma, early post-surgical treatment involving high doses of radiotherapy and chemotherapy can effectively reduce the likelihood of tumor recurrence and appropriately prolong the patient’s lifespan. This helps in extending the lifespan and improving the quality of life to some extent, but generally, the final prognosis remains poor.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Chen Yu Fei
Neurosurgery
44sec home-news-image

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.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Gao Yi Shen
Neurosurgery
40sec home-news-image

Is neuroblastoma hereditary?

Neuroblastoma has a partial genetic predisposition, but current research has not definitively determined the extent or probability of its heritability. For modern neuroblastoma, its origin is primarily associated with genetic mutations or chromosomal changes. Factors such as smoking, drinking, and drug use by the mother during pregnancy can severely harm the fetus and potentially lead to the development of neuroblastoma. Sometimes, excessive radiation or the misuse of certain drugs can also cause neuroblastoma. Therefore, while there is a certain genetic tendency for neuroblastoma, it is not the main factor.