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Revision as of 18:33, 10 September 2012
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
Symptoms
The first symptoms of neuroblastoma are often vague and may include fatigue and loss of appetite. Later symptoms depend on tumor locations. In the abdomen, a tumor may cause a swollen belly and constipation. A tumor in the chest may cause breathing problems. Tumors pressing on the spinal cord cause a feeling of weakness. A tumor in the head may cause the eyes to start to swell outwards and turn black due to the pressure from behind. Often because symptoms are so unclear, half of all neuroblastomas have already spread (metastasized) to other parts of the body by the time suspicions are raised and a diagnosis is made.
The signs and symptoms of neuroblastoma can vary widely depending on where the disease first started and how much it has spread to other parts of the body. Usual symptoms include:
- Irritability, fatigue, loss of appetite, and fever in infant.
- A swollen stomach, abdominal pain, and decreased appetite in young child.
- Bone pain or soreness, black eyes, bruises, and pale skin
- Weakness, numbness, inability to move a body part, or difficulty walking
- Horner's syndrome: Drooping eyelid, unequal pupils, sweating, and red skin
- Difficulty breathing
Other health problems may also cause these symptoms. Only a doctor can tell for sure. A person with any of these symptoms should tell the doctor so that the problems can be diagnosed and treated as early as possible.