Age of onset of neuroblastoma

Written by Chen Yu Fei
Neurosurgery
Updated on January 13, 2025
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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.

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Written by Chen Yu Fei
Neurosurgery
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Can neuroblastoma be treated?

Neuroblastoma is the most common tumor in childhood, and it is also the most common in infants and toddlers. Typically, neuroblastoma is a type of neuroendocrine tumor, clinically found often in the adrenal glands or in nervous tissues such as the neck, chest, and abdomen. Currently, neuroblastoma can be effectively classified according to its level of risk into low-risk, intermediate-risk, or high-risk groups. For patients in the low-risk group, surgical treatment can achieve satisfactory results; for patients in the intermediate-risk or high-risk groups, treatment often involves a combination of methods, yet still may not achieve satisfactory results.

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Written by Gao Yi Shen
Neurosurgery
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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.

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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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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
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Causes of Neuroblastoma

Currently, there is no definitive conclusion about the specific causes of neuroblastoma, but most scholars believe that the occurrence of neuroblastoma is the result of congenital genetic factors combined with acquired factors. For patients with neuroblastoma, there is often a family history of genetic diseases showing a familial clustering tendency. In addition, poor living environments and habits, including exposure to radioactive contamination or prolonged exposure to electromagnetic radiation, may also contribute to the development of neuroblastoma.