Thursday, February, 09, 2012

Neuroblastoma

Table of Contents

Treatment

Treatment varies depending on:

  • The location of the tumor
  • How much and where the tumor has spread
  • The patient's age

In certain cases, surgery alone is enough. Often, though, other therapies are needed. Anticancer medications (chemotherapy) may be recommended if the tumor has spread. Radiation therapy may also be used.

High-dose chemotherapy, followed by autologous stem cell transplantation, is being studied for use in children with very high-risk tumors.


Support Groups

The stress of illness can often be helped by joining a support group where members share common experiences and problems. See cancer - support group.


Expectations (prognosis)

The outcome varies. In very young children with neuroblastoma, the tumor may go away on its own, without any treatment. Or, the tissues of the tumor may mature and develop into a non-cancerous (benign) tumor called a ganglioneuroma, which can be surgically removed. In other cases, the tumor spreads quickly.

Response to treatment also varies. Treatment is often successful if the cancer has not spread. If it has spread, neuroblastoma is much harder to cure. Younger children often do better than older children.

Tumors with certain genetic characteristics may be harder to cure.

Children treated for neuroblastoma may be at risk for getting a second, different cancer in the future.


Complications
  • Spread (metastasis) of the tumor
  • Damage and loss of function of involved organ(s)
    • Kidney failure
    • Liver failure
    • Loss of blood cells produced by the bone marrow
    • Decreased resistance to infection
    • Other organ system failures

Calling your health care provider

Call your health care provider if your child has symptoms of neuroblastoma. Early diagnosis and treatment improves the chance of a good outcome.


Review Date: 12/28/2010
Reviewed By: Yi-Bin Chen, MD, Leukemia/Bone Marrow Transplant Program, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)