Health Encyclopedia

Ganglioneuroblastoma

Definition

Ganglioneuroblastoma is an intermediate tumor arising from nerve tissue. An intermediate tumor is one that is between benign (slow-growing and unlikely to spread) and malignant (fast-growing, aggressive, and likely to spread).

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

This rare tumor has a yearly occurrence of less than 5 per 1,000,000 children.

Tumors of the nervous system vary in their degree of differentiation. The degree of differentiation determines how the tumors appear under the microscope and whether or not they are likely to spread.

Benign tumors are less likely to spread. Malignant tumors are aggressive, grow quickly, and often spread. A ganglioneuroma is a benign tumor, while a neuroblastoma (occurring in children more than a year old) is generally malignant.

A ganglioneuroblastoma may be localized to one area or it may be widespread, but it is usually less aggressive than a neuroblastoma. The cause is unknown.

Symptoms

Most commonly, a mass can be felt in the abdomen, but this condition may also occur in other parts of the body.

Signs and tests

CT scan and/or MRI scan of the affected area
Surgical biopsy to confirm diagnosis
Specialized blood and urine tests
Bone marrow aspiration and biopsy may be necessary
Bone scan may be necessary
MIBG scan may be necessary

Treatment

Because these tumors are rare, they should be treated in a specialized center by experts who have experience with them.

Depending on the specific nature of the tumor, treatment can consist of surgery, and possibly chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

Support Groups

The stress of illness can often be helped by joining a support group where members share common experiences and problems. See cancer - support group.

Expectations (prognosis)

The prognosis depends on the extent of the tumor, and whether or not some areas of the tumor contain the more aggressive cells of a neuroblastoma.

Complications

Invasion of the tumor into surrounding areas (spread of the tumor)
Complications of surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy

Calling your health care provider

Call your health care provider if you feel a mass or growth on your child's body. Make sure children receive routine examinations as part of their well child care.

Review Date:5/22/2006
Reviewed By:Adam S. Levy, MD, Director, Fellowship Training Program, Section of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, The Children's Hospital at Montefiore, Bronx,NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

ADAM Quality A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is the first of its kind, requiring compliance with 53 standards of quality and accountability, verified by independent audit. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial process. A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics (www.hiethics.com) and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).

The Agency for Health Care Administration (Agency) and this website do not claim the information on, or referred to by, this site is error free. This site may include links to websites of other government agencies or private groups. Our Agency and this website do not control such sites and are not responsible for their content. Reference to or links to any other group, product, service, or information does not mean our Agency or this website approves of that group, product, service, or information.

Additionally, while health information provided through this website may be a valuable resource for the public, it is not designed to offer medical advice. Talk with your doctor about medical care questions you may have.