Neuroblastoma is a cancer that forms in your nerve tissue. It usually begins in the adrenal glands, which sit atop your kidneys. It may also begin in your neck, chest or spinal cord. The cancer often begins in early childhood. Sometimes it begins before a child is born. By the time doctors find the cancer, it has usually spread to other parts of the body. The most common symptoms are
- A lump in the abdomen, neck or chest
- Bulging eyes
- Dark circles around the eyes
- Bone pain
- Swollen stomach and trouble breathing in babies
- Painless, bluish lumps under the skin in babies
- Inability to move a body part
Treatments include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy or a combination. Sometimes before giving treatment, doctors wait to see whether symptoms get worse. This is called watchful waiting.
National Cancer Institute
-
Neuroblastoma (PDQ): Treatment
(National Cancer Institute) - http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/neuroblastoma/patient/
Also available in Spanish http://www.cancer.gov/espanol/pdq/tratamiento/neuroblastoma/patient/ - What Is Neuroblastoma?(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/cri/content/cri_2_4_1x_what_is_neuroblastoma_31.asp
- Detailed Guide: Neuroblastoma(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/CRI_2_3x.asp?dt=31
- How Is Neuroblastoma Diagnosed?(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/cri/content/cri_2_4_3x_how_is_neuroblastoma_diagnosed_31.asp
- Neuroblastoma Treatment by Stage(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_4X_Treatment_by_Stage_31.asp
-
Neuroblastoma (PDQ): Screening(National Cancer Institute) - http://www.nci.nih.gov/cancerinfo/pdq/screening/neuroblastoma/patient/
- Neuroblastoma: What Happens After Treatment?(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/cri/content/cri_2_4_5x_what_happens_after_treatment_31.asp
- What Should You Ask Your Child's Doctor about Neuroblastoma?(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/cri/content/cri_2_4_5x_what_should_you_ask_your_physician_about_neuroblastoma_31.asp
- Insurance Issues (Cancer in Children)(Children's Oncology Group, National Children's Cancer Society) - http://www.curesearch.org/for_parents_and_families/intreatment/living/article.aspx?ArticleId=3118&StageId=2&TopicId=14&Level=1
-
ClinicalTrials.gov: Neuroblastoma(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Neuroblastoma%22
-
Less-Intense Chemo Effective in Children with Intermediate-Risk Neuroblastoma(National Cancer Institute) - http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/results/less-intense0607
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: Paraspinal synovial sarcoma as an unusual postradiation complication in pediatric... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18797206&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Reconstitution of Schwannian stroma in neuroblastomas using human bone marrow... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18772334&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Metastatic neuroblastoma in the mandibular condyle: report of a case. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18718405&tool=MedlinePlus
- Neuroblastoma -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=neuroblastoma[majr]+AND+english[la]+AND+humans[mh]+AND+(jsubsetk[text]+OR+jsubsetaim[text]+OR+jsubsetn[text]+OR+guideline[pt]+OR+patient+education+handout[pt]+OR+review[pt]+OR+clinical+trial[pt])+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus
- Neuroblastoma - http://vsearch.nlm.nih.gov/vivisimo/cgi-bin/query-meta?v:project=medlineplus&binning-state=group%3d%3dMedical%20Encyclopedia&query=Neuroblastoma
-
Dictionary of Cancer Terms(National Cancer Institute) - http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary/
- Find an Oncologist(American Society of Clinical Oncology) - http://www.cancer.net/patient/Diagnosis+and+Treatment/Finding+Quality+Care/Find+an+Oncologist/Find+an+Oncologist+Database
- American Cancer Society - http://www.cancer.org/
-
National Cancer Institute - http://www.cancer.gov/
- What Are the Key Statistics about Neuroblastoma?(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/cri/content/cri_2_4_1x_what_are_the_key_statistics_for_neuroblastoma_31.asp
- Cancer in Children - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/cancerinchildren.html
- Brain and Nerves - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/brainandnerves.html
- Cancers - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/cancers.html
The primary NIH organization for research on Neuroblastoma is the National Cancer Institute - http://www.nci.nih.gov/