Question 1

is there any really effective treatment of neuroblastoma in children?

Accepted Answer

Yes: Thankfully treatment of neuroblastoma has improved dramatically over the last decade. That is not to say that all children are curable; the outcome is greatly dependent on the risk stratification that your oncologist perform to tailor treatment. As expected children in the high risk group do not do as well as those in the low risk group.

Question 2

what is the average age of children diagnosed with neuroblastoma?

Accepted Answer

Less than 5: 90% of cases occur before the age of 5 years old.  50% of them occur before the age of 2 years old.  The highest incidence occurs in the first year of life.

Question 3

is neuroblastoma stage 4 deadly in teenagers and children in general?

Accepted Answer

Stage 4 neuroblastom: Generally speaking stage 4 neuroblastoma in children and adolescents carries a poor prognosis 30-40% depending on a variety of factors. There is a subtype of stage 4 neuroblastoma called 4s which can be seen in children less than 1 year old. This tends to actually have a good prognosis and can resolve on its own without treatment.

Question 4

what is occult neuroblastoma?

Accepted Answer

Asymptomatic: An occult neuroblastoma is a type of brain tumor that does not cause any symptoms.

Question 5

can an adult have neuroblastoma?

Accepted Answer

Rare; but yes...: Neuroblastoma is usually in children; and the most common cancer in infants...But unfortunately(and rarely) it can occur in adults, too.

Question 6

help! exactly what is neuroblastoma?

Accepted Answer

Apparently none: The cause of paget's disease of bone remains unknown.  Current speculation centers on a viral origin.  The problem is local, not systemic. The bone self-repair, called remodeling, is accelerated, and there is more removal than replacement, which weakens the bone and sometimes causes pain and fractures.  The parathyroid gland, which is an endocrine gland controlling bone metabolism, is not involved.

Question 7

what does occult neuroblastoma mean?

Accepted Answer

Neuroblastoma: I have not heard of the term "occult" neuroblastoma - a patient either has a neuroblastoma or does not, the use of the term "occult" is not typically used here.

Question 8

is neuroblastoma common in teenagers?

Accepted Answer

No: It is more common in early childhood, but remains a rare tumor. 400-500 cases a year in the U.S.

Question 9

is neuroblastoma strongly hereditary?

Accepted Answer

Some are: See http://omim.Org/entry/256700
nb in derived from early fetal tissue & some pts inherit a germline defect or pick it up as a new mutation or gene defect. It can occur in syndromes of family cancer tendency, all of which point to small defects on various chromasomes and give rise to several types of cancer. Very refined testing is required to separate the ones that are from those that are not.

Question 10

what are the symptoms of neuroblastoma?

Accepted Answer

Variable: Nb is typically a mass, and the symptoms of a mass can be silent or swelling/distention of the area (typically the abdomen). 
Nb can also be spread into other areas.  These symptoms can include fatigue, irritability, pain.

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Doctor answers about:

Neuroblastoma in children

A member asked:

Is there any really effective treatment of neuroblastoma in children?

A member asked:

What is the average age of children diagnosed with neuroblastoma?

A member asked:

Is neuroblastoma stage 4 deadly in teenagers and children in general?

A member asked:

What is occult neuroblastoma?

A member asked:

Can an adult have neuroblastoma?

A member asked:

Help! exactly what is neuroblastoma?

A member asked:

What does occult neuroblastoma mean?

A member asked:

Is neuroblastoma common in teenagers?

A member asked:

Is neuroblastoma strongly hereditary?

A member asked:

What are the symptoms of neuroblastoma?

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