What are the symptoms of neuroblastoma in children?

Symptoms of neuroblastoma in children (Neuroblastoma) vary and depend on the size, location and presence of metastases of the tumor. The following is a classification of common symptoms:

1. Local symptoms

Abdominal mass: The most common, usually painless and may be accompanied by abdominal distension or pressure.

A lump in the chest: may cause difficulty breathing, coughing, or chest pain.

Neck mass: Compressive symptoms such as difficulty swallowing or hoarseness.

2. Metastasis symptoms

Bone pain: When tumors metastasize to bones or bone marrow, children may experience unexplained bone pain or difficulty walking.

Skin symptoms: Blue or purple bumps may appear on the skin, indicating distant metastasis.

Lymphadenopathy: Local swelling occurs when metastasis to lymph nodes.

3. Systemic symptoms

Fever, fatigue, and weight loss: These are common systemic manifestations of malignant tumors.

Hypertension: If the tumor is located in the adrenal gland, it may cause hormone secretion disorders, leading to increased blood pressure.

Eye symptoms: Tumor metastasis to the orbit may cause swelling and bruising around the eyes (commonly known as "raccoon eyes") or proptosis.

4. Nervous symptoms

Spinal cord compression: When tumors invade the spine, they can cause limb weakness or paralysis.

Diarrhea or constipation: related to the impact of sympathetic nerves.

Special circumstances

Ectopic hormone secretion syndrome: If a tumor secretes catecholamines, paleness and sweating may occur.

To sum up, neuroblastoma has various symptoms and is often ignored because it is hidden in the early stage. Once relevant symptoms appear, you should seek medical treatment promptly for a clear diagnosis.

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ReferenceInformation：https://www.cancer.org/cancer/neuroblastoma.html