Early symptoms of neuroblastoma

Written by Chen Yu Fei
Neurosurgery
Updated on September 01, 2024
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For patients with neuroblastoma, in the early stages, due to the small size of the tumor, there generally lacks clear clinical signs or symptoms. Most patients experience mild headaches, dizziness, nausea, and vomiting, accompanied by a certain degree of vertigo. However, in most cases, these symptoms can be tolerated. Patients often have episodic attacks, with a persistent worsening condition. Later, as the tumor grows further, it may lead to an exacerbation of existing symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, nausea, and vomiting. Some patients may also experience abnormalities in the sensation of one side of the body, manifested as numbness, pain, and a tingling sensation.

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Written by Chen Yu Fei
Neurosurgery
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Early symptoms of neuroblastoma

For neuroblastoma, in the early stages of the disease, mild headaches, dizziness, nausea, and vomiting often occur, but the symptoms are relatively mild and most can be tolerated. As the disease gradually progresses and the tumor volume begins to increase, it compresses the surrounding brain tissue and cranial nerves, causing the patient to exhibit certain degrees of headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, and other clinical manifestations. As the tumor volume further increases and cerebral edema becomes apparent with elevated intracranial pressure, it may lead to cranial nerve dysfunction in patients. For instance, it might trigger epileptic seizures or cause patients to experience hemiplegia, aphasia, and other clinical manifestations. Once these symptoms occur, it is advisable to visit a local hospital early for treatment.

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Written by Chen Yu Fei
Neurosurgery
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What should be avoided in the diet for neuroblastoma?

Patients with neuroblastoma should be cautious with their diet and avoid foods that are overly greasy or spicy. It's also advisable to limit or avoid carbohydrate-rich or fried foods and those high in cholesterol. If the patient has allergies, they should avoid seafood products, which contain abundant animal proteins and can trigger allergic reactions, potentially leading to allergic dermatitis or allergic asthma. Additionally, some fruits, such as durian or mango, may also induce allergic reactions, so it is best to consume them sparingly or not at all.

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Written by Chen Yu Fei
Neurosurgery
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How to check for neuroblastoma?

For the examination of neuroblastoma, we generally recommend a neurological examination to help determine whether there are any clear positive signs, as well as to inquire about medical history and family history to judge if there are any cases of neuroblastoma among family members. Additionally, detailed laboratory tests, routine blood tests, routine urine tests, and biochemical tests, including tumor-related diagnostics, can help in making assessments. Of course, the most accurate and crucial examinations are CT or MRI scans of the head. If necessary, an enhanced MRI scan of the head can be conducted to further evaluate the location, nature, severity of the tumor, and its relationship with the surrounding neural and vascular tissues, which helps provide a basis for further surgical treatment.

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Neurosurgery
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Is neuroblastoma serious?

Neuroblastoma is relatively serious and is classified as a highly malignant tumor, one of the epithelial cell tumors. The disease often leads to severe intracranial pressure increases, manifesting as intense headaches, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, and even possible optic disc edema, vision loss, and visual field defects. The occurrence of neuroblastoma often indicates a poor prognosis for patients, with a short disease duration and reduced survival time. The five-year survival rate is decreased. Treatment primarily involves surgical intervention to completely remove the neuroblastoma, followed by postoperative radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and other related treatments.

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Written by Chen Yu Fei
Neurosurgery
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Age of onset of neuroblastoma

Neuroblastoma, typically arises from primitive neural crest cells, is more commonly found in the sympathetic ganglia and adrenal medulla. There is no specific age for the onset of neuroblastoma, but research indicates that it is more commonly diagnosed in children. The exact causative factors of neuroblastoma are not yet fully understood, but it is widely believed to involve congenital genetic factors, including acquired genetic mutations. Clinically, the presentation largely depends on the location of the tumor, the age at diagnosis, and the degree of malignancy of the tumor. In most cases, the tumor originates in the abdominal cavity, with a higher occurrence in the adrenal glands in children.