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Complications

By Mayo Clinic staff

Complications of neuroblastoma may include:

  • Spread of the cancer (metastasis). Neuroblastoma may spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body, such as the lymph nodes, bone marrow, eyes, liver, skin and the tissue that surrounds the spinal cord (dura).
  • Spinal cord compression. Tumors may grow and press on the spinal cord, causing spinal cord compression. Spinal cord compression may cause pain and paralysis.
  • Signs and symptoms caused by tumor secretions. Neuroblastomas may secrete certain chemicals that irritate other normal tissues, causing signs and symptoms called paraneoplastic syndromes. One paraneoplastic syndrome that occurs rarely in people with neuroblastoma causes rapid eye movements and difficulty with coordination. Another rare syndrome causes abdominal swelling and diarrhea.

DS00780

Aug. 14, 2008

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