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Neuroblastoma Cancer: Symptoms, Signs and Causes

Home> Neuroblastoma> Symptoms and Causes

Neuroblastoma is more commonly seen in children. Childhood neuroblastoma symptoms include persistent fatigue, weakness, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and bloating. The neuroblastoma symptoms in adults are almost similar to those in children. Although the disease's exact cause is unknown, it is believed to occur due to mutations, congenital anomalies, and chromosomal aberrations.

Who is most commonly affected by Neuroblastoma Cancer?

Although neuroblastoma may occur in any individual, some are at a relatively higher risk of developing this condition. Neuroblastoma most commonly affects children and individuals with a genetic predisposition to neuroblastoma, chromosomal aberrations, and MYCN amplification, people of specific races and ethnicities, and individuals who are exposed to environmental factors.

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What are the Signs and Symptoms of Neuroblastoma Cancer?

Some of the neuroblastoma cancer symptoms are:

Neuroblastoma in the Abdomen

Patients with neuroblastoma in the abdomen experience several symptoms, such as abdominal swelling and pain, palpable mass, weight loss, and altered bowel habits. In advanced stages, the tumor compresses the tissues of other organs, leading to specific symptoms.

Neuroblastoma in the Chest

Commonly observed chest neuroblastoma cancer symptoms include chest pain, persistent coughing, and difficulty breathing. Some patients may have a palpable mass in the chest.

Pain in the Bones, Back or Legs

Pain in the back, bones, and legs may be signs of neuroblastoma due to the presence of neuroblastoma cancer at these sites. Further, compression of nerves by neuroblastoma tumors may also cause pain in the legs and back.

Fatigue

Fatigue is also a sign of neuroblastoma and is due to the excessive consumption of nutrients and energy by the cancer cells. The fatigue may also be due to various effects of cancer treatment, such as anemia.

High Fever

High fever as a neuroblastoma cancer symptom may be caused by the cancer itself, the treatment, and the complications. The activation of the immune system by the cancer cells may raise the body's temperature.

Loss of Appetite

Loss of appetite is a common neuroblastoma cancer symptom. The presence of tumors in the abdominal regions may result in reduced appetite. The cancer treatment and psychological factors related to the disease may also reduce hunger.

Bulging Eyes

Bulging eyes may be a rare sign of neuroblastoma. Several mechanisms related to bulging eyes include the spread of the tumor to the bone of the eye orbit, compression of the optic nerve, and the initiation of cancer in the retrobulbar space.

Pale Skin

Pale skin may be one of the neuroblastoma cancer symptoms, mainly when the tumor affects the bone marrow. The tumor in the bone marrow affects the production of blood cells, leading to a pale appearance of the skin.

Urinary Symptoms

Some of the signs of neuroblastoma of the urinary system include urinary incontinence, urinary obstruction, and urinary retention. In advanced cases, the patients may also experience hydronephrosis.

Bowel Changes

Changes in bowel habits and an altered appearance of the bowel are also neuroblastoma cancer symptoms. These symptoms may be due to bowel obstruction, the effect on the sympathetic nervous system (which regulates the gastrointestinal system), and the invasion of the neuroblastoma cancer cells into the abdominal organs.

Breathing Problem

Breathing problems may be a sign of neuroblastoma experienced by patients with neuroblastoma of the chest. The tumor compresses the chest and the lungs, causing breathing problems.

Neurological Symptoms

Some of the neurological neuroblastoma cancer symptoms include pain due to nerve compression, paralysis, Horner's syndrome (lack of sweating, contracted pupils, and drooping of the upper eyelid on one side of the face), headaches, seizures, and balance problems.

Bleeding

Bleeding may be a sign of neuroblastoma and may be due to invasion of the tumor cells, especially in the abdomen (leading to abdominal bleeding). It may also be due to reduced production of blood cells, especially platelets, in patients with bone marrow involvement.

Severe and Persistent Diarrhea

Severe and persistent diarrhea is a neuroblastoma cancer symptom, especially in patients with invasion or origin of neuroblastoma cells into the abdomen and gastrointestinal organs.

Weakness, Movement Problems, or Paralysis

Weakness, movement problems, and paralysis are the signs of neuroblastoma and occur when the tumor compresses the nerves regulating the movement of muscles.

High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure may be one of the neuroblastoma symptoms. It may be due to sympathetic nervous system involvement, excessive production of catecholamines, and chemotherapy treatment.

Uncontrollable Eye Movements

Uncontrollable eye movement, also known as opsoclonus myoclonus syndrome, is a sign of neuroblastoma. Almost 50% of the patients with this syndrome are diagnosed with neuroblastoma.

Bloated Belly

A bloated belly may be a neuroblastoma symptom, especially in patients with abdominal organ involvement. It may be due to GI tract obstruction or constipation.

Bluish Skin Nodules (in infants)

Bluish skin nodules are the initial childhood neuroblastoma symptoms. When rubbed, these nodules may be blanched and surrounded by the halo of erythema.

What are the Causes of Neuroblastoma Cancer?

When it comes to understanding what causes neuroblastoma, there is no concrete information on the exact cause. However, some factors do increase the risk of neuroblastoma, and they are referred to as risk factors or possible causes. The following are the possible causes of neuroblastoma:

Chromosomal Abnormalities

Chromosomal abnormalities are one of the most common causes of neuroblastoma. The type of chromosomal abnormalities indicates the potential to manifest low-risk, intermediate-risk, or high-risk neuroblastoma symptoms (malignant neuroblastoma). It may also predict the neuroblastoma survival rate.

Genetic Mutations

Like most other cancers, genetic mutations are also the cause of neuroblastoma. The information in the DNA is mutated for various reasons, resulting in uncontrolled cellular growth, division, and proliferation.

MYCN Amplification

It is a possible cause of neuroblastoma. It is clinically significant and diagnosed through polymerase chain reaction and fluorescence in situ hybridization.

Neuroblastoma Predisposition

Several predisposing factors may also be the cause of neuroblastoma. These include the age of the patient and hereditary and congenital abnormalities.

Environmental Factors

Some environmental factors may also be attributed to the cause of neuroblastoma. Pregnant women exposed to certain chemicals, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, carbon tetrachloride, and hexavalent chromium, may have neuroblastoma in the offspring.

Age

Individuals below the age of 5 have an increased risk of developing neuroblastoma, with peak incidence during the initial two years of life.

When to see an Oncologist?

The patients should consult with the oncologists if they experience symptoms of concern, such as persistent fever, abdominal pain, sudden change in bowel habits, unexplained weight loss, constant fatigue, severe and persistent diarrhea, weakness, leg pain, back pain, and breathing problems.

Conclusion

The neuroblastoma signs and symptoms are pain, high fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, bloating, urinary incontinence, high blood pressure, bulging eyes, breathing problems, uncontrolled eye movements, and pale skin. The causes of neuroblastoma are age, chromosomal aberrations, mutations, MYCN amplification, and environmental factors.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the symptoms of neuroblastoma?

Commonly observed symptoms of neuroblastoma include pain in the bones, back, or legs, fatigue, high fever, loss of appetite, bulging eyes, pale skin, urinary symptoms, bowel changes, breathing problems, neurological symptoms, bleeding, mobility problems, uncontrolled eye movements, bloating, and hypertension.

Individuals with neuroblastoma, especially those with advanced neuroblastoma, may experience high fever, fatigue, weakness, and pain. The patients experience sickness and tiredness.

There are no studies to suggest vaccines as the cause of neuroblastoma.

The characteristics of a neuroblastoma lump depend on various factors, including age, size, and location. The lump may be irregularly shaped, firm, and sometimes move on touching.

Patients with a family history of neuroblastoma are at an increased risk of developing this condition, suggesting a hereditary link.

Several factors contribute to the increased trend of neuroblastoma in infants. These include genetic predisposition, embryonic origin, spontaneous mutation, and environmental factors.