How to diagnose neuroblastoma?

Written by Chen Yu Fei
Neurosurgery
Updated on January 22, 2025
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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.

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Written by Chen Yu Fei
Neurosurgery
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neuroblastoma cure rate

Neuroblastoma is relatively likely to be a malignant tumor, typically characterized by rapid growth of malignant tumors.In the early stages of the disease, it often adheres to surrounding tissues, making it difficult to completely remove through surgery. Even with surgical treatment, the outcomes are generally modest, and recurrence is likely to occur shortly after surgery. Once recurrence occurs, the malignancy of the tumor will continue to increase.For these patients, the prognosis is poor. It is generally recommended to undergo surgical treatment early, followed by radiotherapy and chemotherapy to potentially extend the patient's lifespan, but it is usually difficult to cure.

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Written by Chen Yu Fei
Neurosurgery
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How does neuroblastoma heal itself?

Neuroblastoma cannot completely heal by itself. Once neuroblastoma is detected, patients should be promptly taken to local hospitals for treatment, be hospitalized, and undergo skull CT or MRI scans. If necessary, enhanced MRI scans can be conducted to clarify the current location of the tumor and its relationship with surrounding tissues, and to determine the surgical plan. The tumor should be completely removed through surgery. After the surgery, a small amount of tumor tissue should be kept for pathological slides to assess the need for radiotherapy, chemotherapy, or other related treatments based on the results of the pathological examination. For some elderly and frail patients who cannot tolerate surgery, Gamma Knife treatment can also be considered.

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Written by Chen Yu Fei
Neurosurgery
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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.

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Written by Chen Yu Fei
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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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.