What are the symptoms of neuroblastoma?
Symptoms can vary widely, depending on the location of the tumor and other factors, but may include:
- Swelling of the abdomen
- Fever
- Diarrhea or poor appetite
- Swelling and bruising around the eyes. Uncontrolled eye movements or bulging eyes if the tumor is in the face or head
- Changes in urination if the tumor presses on the kidney or bladder
- Pain, fatigue, limping, paralysis or weakness if bone marrow is involved
- High blood pressure and increased heart rate
How is neuroblastoma diagnosed?
In addition to accurate diagnosis, determining the stage of neuroblastoma is critical to creating an appropriate treatment plan. The most common tests for neuroblastoma used to diagnose and stage neuroblastoma are:
- Blood and urine tests
- Neurological exam
- Imaging studies such as a CT scan, MRI, X-ray, ultrasound, bone scans and nuclear scans
- Bone marrow aspiration and/or biopsy
- Biopsy of the tumor
