Neuroblastoma examination items

Written by Chen Yu Fei
Neurosurgery
Updated on September 09, 2024
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For neuroblastoma, the examination items mainly include the patient's vital signs and physical examination, including detailed examinations to observe if there are any obvious pathological signs. Additionally, it is necessary to inquire about the patient’s medical history, especially past medical history and family history. Main examination items include laboratory tests, routine blood and urine tests, biochemistry, and tumor-related tests. Furthermore, examinations also involve using a cranial CT scan, MRI of the head, and if necessary, an enhanced MRI scan of the head, to further determine the presence of neuroblastoma, as well as its location, quantity, and the relationship between the surrounding tissues, blood vessels, and nerves.

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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.

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How to avoid neuroblastoma

To avoid neuroblastoma, it is recommended to develop good living habits in daily life, including maintaining over 30 minutes of aerobic exercise each day to keep physically healthy. Additionally, it is advisable to consume more fruits rich in vitamin C, which contain abundant vitamins that can effectively serve as antioxidants. Keeping good sleep habits, going to bed early and waking up early, avoiding staying up late and long durations of using mobile phones or computers to minimize excessive exposure to electromagnetic radiation. In daily life, one should also learn self-protection, avoid contact with carcinogenic chemicals, and avoid excessive exposure to radioactive pollution. All these measures can effectively prevent the condition.

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Written by Chen Yu Fei
Neurosurgery
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Early symptoms of neuroblastoma

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 patients with neuroblastoma, the early stages of the disease often manifest as mild headaches, dizziness, nausea, and vomiting. The symptoms are relatively mild and can be significantly alleviated by taking oral pain relief medications. Therefore, the condition often does not receive adequate attention, leading to missed diagnoses. As the tumor size increases, the original symptoms such as headaches and dizziness will significantly worsen. Some patients may even experience optic nerve atrophy, papilledema, reduced visual fields, and vision deficits. When such conditions occur, patients often undergo cranial CT or MRI scans to confirm the presence of neuroblastoma.

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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.