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Symptoms
By Mayo Clinic staff
Signs and symptoms of neuroblastoma vary depending on what part of the body is affected.
Neuroblastoma in the abdomen — the most common form — may cause signs and symptoms such as:
- Abdominal pain
- A mass under the skin that isn't tender when touched
- Changes in bowel habits, such as diarrhea
- Swelling in the legs
Neuroblastoma in the chest may cause signs and symptoms such as:
- Wheezing
- Chest pain
- Changes to the eyes, including drooping eyelids and unequal pupil size
Other signs and symptoms that may indicate neuroblastoma include:
- Lumps of tissue under the skin
- Eyeballs that seem to protrude from the sockets (proptosis)
- Dark circles, similar to bruises, around the eyes
- Back pain
- Fever
- Unexplained weight loss
- Bone pain
When to see a doctor
Contact your child's doctor if your child has any signs or symptoms that worry you. Mention any changes in your child's behavior or habits.
- Ater, JL. Neuroblastoma. In: Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 18th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/207463617-2/0/1608/0.html. Accessed June 28, 2010.
- Park JR, et al. Neuroblastoma: Biology, prognosis and treatment. Hematology & Oncology Clinics of North America. 2010;24:65.
- Dome JS, et al. Pediatric solid tumors. In: Abeloff MD, et al. Abeloff's Clinical Oncology. 4th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Churchill Livingstone; 2007:2091.
- Neuroblastoma treatment (PDQ). National Cancer Institute. http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/neuroblastoma/patient/allpages. Accessed June 28, 2010.
- Family Handbook for Children with Cancer. Children's Oncology Group. http://www.curesearch.org/pdf/Family_Handbook_for_Curesearch.pdf. Accessed July 6, 2010.
- Neuroblastoma — childhood. Cancer.Net. http://www.cancer.net/patient/Cancer+Types/Neuroblastoma+-+Childhood. Accessed July 6, 2010.
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