Neuroblasztóma

What is it?

Neuroblastoma is a cancer of neuroblasts, nerve cells that have not yet matured.¹ It most often starts in the adrenal glands, which sit on top of the kidneys, but it can also start in nerve tissue in the neck, chest, belly or pelvis.¹

It is very rare: in the United States more than 650 children are diagnosed each year.³ It mostly affects babies and young children; half are 17 months old or younger when it is found, and it is slightly more common in boys.^3,2,1 About half of these tumours are already there at birth, and sometimes one is seen on an ultrasound scan in pregnancy.^2,1 Certain gene changes (in ALK or PHOX2B) or inherited conditions raise the risk. Children with them should be checked for signs of neuroblastoma until they are 10 years old.¹

The first signs

Look out for:

• a lump in the belly, neck or chest, or a swollen belly;^1,2
• bone pain or weakness;¹
• bulging eyes or dark circles around the eyes; in babies, a swollen belly with trouble breathing, or painless bluish lumps under the skin;¹
• fever, feeling unwell, poor appetite, weight loss or diarrhoea;^2,1
• eyes and limbs that jerk on their own ("dancing eyes, dancing feet").^2,1

Many of these signs have other causes, but contact your child's doctor if you notice them.^1,2

How doctors find out

A children's cancer specialist (paediatric oncologist) leads the team.¹ Urine tests measure certain substances (VMA and HVA); a higher-than-normal amount can be a sign of neuroblastoma.¹ Scans (an MIBG scan, CT or MRI) show where the tumour is and whether it has spread.^2,1 A small piece of the tumour is taken (biopsy) and tested, including for a gene called MYCN, and a sample of bone marrow checks for spread.¹

These results put your child in a low-, intermediate- or high-risk group, which decides the treatment.¹

Jelenlegi kezelés

Surgery or watching if low risk; intensive therapy if highForrás: NCI PDQ

Will it get worse?

It is very different from child to child.² In some very young children the tumour goes away without treatment, or matures into a harmless tumour (ganglioneuroma).² By the time it is found, it has usually already spread.^1,2 Younger children often do better than older children, and treatment is often successful if the cancer has not spread.²

Medicines: what helps, and what to watch for

For intermediate-risk neuroblastoma, chemotherapy may be given to children with symptoms or to shrink a tumour that cannot be removed by surgery.¹ Children in the high-risk group have treatment in phases: chemotherapy and surgery; then high-dose chemotherapy, with the child's own stem cells given back to rebuild the blood, and radiotherapy; and then an antibody medicine (dinutuximab), a medicine that boosts white blood cells (GM-CSF) and isotretinoin, followed by eflornithine.¹

Good to know:

• Common side effects of chemotherapy are tiredness, feeling sick, a sore mouth and hair loss for a while;⁴
• Treatment can cause problems that show up years later (late effects), such as changes in teeth, growth, hearing, learning or memory, or another cancer;¹
• Your child will have regular check-ups, with urine tests and MIBG scans, after treatment.¹

Radiotherapy and MIBG therapy

Radiotherapy is part of the treatment for high-risk neuroblastoma.¹ MIBG therapy, which uses a radioactive medicine that collects in the tumour cells, is another option for some children.¹

Surgery, for many children

For children in the low-risk group, treatment may be surgery followed by close watching, and in some cases surgery alone is enough.^1,3,2 In the high-risk group, surgery is done together with chemotherapy.¹ Some babies up to 6 months old are only watched closely at first, because the tumour may go away on its own.¹

Your family and everyday life

Support groups can help your child and your family cope.² A team led by a children's cancer specialist cares for your child.¹ The NCI says that, because cancer in children is rare, taking part in a clinical trial should be considered.¹

Is there a cure?

Treatment is often successful if the cancer has not spread.² Low- and intermediate-risk neuroblastoma has a good chance of being cured.¹ High-risk neuroblastoma can be hard to cure.¹ Researchers are testing new treatments, such as CAR T-cell therapy, in clinical trials.¹

Források

1. NCI PDQ: Neuroblastoma Treatment (PDQ) – Patient Version
2. MedlinePlus: Neuroblastoma (Medical Encyclopedia)
3. NCI PDQ: Neuroblastoma Treatment (PDQ) – Health Professional Version
4. NHS: Chemotherapy – Side effects

olvasva: 2026-11-11