Neuroblastoma is a type of cancer of the nervous system more common among children under 1 year of age that can begin in the nerves of the thorax, brain, abdomen or in the adrenal glands that are located on each kidney.
Children less than 1 year of age and with small tumors have a greater chance of cure, especially when instituted early treatment. When the diagnosis is made early and does not present metastases neuroblastoma can be surgically removed without the need for radiotherapy or antineoplastic medication, so in children the cure rate is low due to cancer progression.
Symptoms of neuroblastoma
Symptoms of neuroblastoma include:
- abdominal pain and distention;
- pain in the bones;
- loss of appetite;
- general malaise;
- fever;
- diarrhea.
Depending on the location of the tumor there may be:
- hypertension due to catecholamines by the tumor that are powerful vasoconstricting agents;
- dilated liver;
- swollen eyes, one pupil smaller than the other;
- absence of sweat
Diagnosis of neuroblastoma can be done by examining the complete blood count and other blood tests, as well as performing chest x-ray and abdomen examinations, computed tomography, aspiration, and bone marrow biopsy to search for malignant cells.
Treatment for neuroblastoma
The treatment against neuroblastoma consists of ingestion of drugs (chemotherapy), surgery to remove the tumor, radiation therapy and bone marrow transplantation may be indicated in many cases. The therapy instituted will depend on the staging of the cancer, which according to the International Neuroblastoma System is:
- Stage I - Localized disease, with complete surgical resection.
- Stage II - Regional disease, unilateral, with incomplete resection or positive lymph nodes.
- Stage III - Tumor that crosses the midline of the body.
- Stage IV - Distant metastases.
- Stage IV S - Primary tumor in stages I or II, with metastases to the liver, skin and / or bone marrow, without radiographic evidence of bone involvement. This special stage is only used on very young children (under 1 year of age).
There is a greater chance of cure for those suffering from stage I, II and III neuroblastoma.
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