Can neuroblastoma be cured?

Written by Chen Yu Fei
Neurosurgery
Updated on September 10, 2024
00:00
00:00

Neuroblastoma is a malignant tumor that often grows rapidly. In the early stages of the disease, it can easily invade surrounding tissues and nerves, making it very difficult to completely remove the tumor through surgery. In most cases, even after surgical treatment, there is a high tendency for recurrence in children, making it difficult to achieve a clinical cure. For most patients with neuroblastoma, early post-surgical treatment involving high doses of radiotherapy and chemotherapy can effectively reduce the likelihood of tumor recurrence and appropriately prolong the patient’s lifespan. This helps in extending the lifespan and improving the quality of life to some extent, but generally, the final prognosis remains poor.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Gao Yi Shen
Neurosurgery
40sec home-news-image

Is neuroblastoma hereditary?

Neuroblastoma has a partial genetic predisposition, but current research has not definitively determined the extent or probability of its heritability. For modern neuroblastoma, its origin is primarily associated with genetic mutations or chromosomal changes. Factors such as smoking, drinking, and drug use by the mother during pregnancy can severely harm the fetus and potentially lead to the development of neuroblastoma. Sometimes, excessive radiation or the misuse of certain drugs can also cause neuroblastoma. Therefore, while there is a certain genetic tendency for neuroblastoma, it is not the main factor.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Chen Yu Fei
Neurosurgery
56sec home-news-image

How to diagnose neuroblastoma?

For neuroblastoma, the final diagnosis requires the patient to undergo surgical treatment. During the surgery, the neuroblastoma is completely excised, and a small amount of tumor tissue is retained for pathological sectioning. The diagnosis is determined based on the results of the pathological examination, which assesses the specific cells of the neuroblastoma, whether it is benign or malignant, and its level of malignancy. This also determines how the patient will receive subsequent treatments like radiotherapy and chemotherapy. In addition to relying on pathological examinations, most neuroblastoma patients can also undergo more thorough examinations. In most cases, elevated levels of catecholamines and their metabolites can be found in the blood or urine of neuroblastoma patients, significantly higher than that of the normal population.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Gao Yi Shen
Neurosurgery
43sec home-news-image

Is calcification of neuroblastoma good?

In clinical practice, although calcification is a relatively favorable phenomenon, the overall condition of neuroblastoma does not change significantly because of it. Therefore, it is still not a good sign. For neuroblastoma, whether calcification occurs or not, it remains a form of tumor. Only through early surgical treatment can the problem be fundamentally resolved, otherwise, there is a tendency for recurrence and metastasis to occur later on. Moreover, it is important to note that regardless of whether the tumor calcifies, its nature does not change. Only fundamental treatment can bring better hope, so calcification does not lead to very good outcomes.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Chen Yu Fei
Neurosurgery
44sec home-news-image

How do you get neuroblastoma?

Currently, there is no consensus on the specific causes of neuroblastoma. In most cases, it is believed to be caused by the failure of primitive myeloid epithelial cells to continue differentiating, which is somewhat linked to congenital genetic factors. Additionally, poor lifestyle choices and exposure to certain chemical carcinogens, including long-term exposure to radiation, can potentially lead to neuroblastoma. Neuroblastoma is a highly malignant tumor that generally grows and develops rapidly. It often adheres to surrounding tissues in the early stages of the disease, making complete surgical removal quite difficult, and typically has a poor prognosis.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Gao Yi Shen
Neurosurgery
33sec home-news-image

Neuroblastoma in children

Neuroblastoma does not specifically concern how old the child is, as it can occur in children during their developmental process, and even in newborns, adolescents, and adults. There is no specific timing required for its occurrence. Therefore, for neuroblastoma, the principle is to initiate treatment as soon as it is detected. Although the prognosis may not be very good, the aim should be to extend the patient's life and reduce suffering as much as possible. After all, no matter the age, the patient is a loved one.