How Do You Diagnose Neuroblastoma?
A neuroblastoma is a malignant tumor of immature nerve cells. It is a poorly differentiated tumor that is most common in young children and infants. A neuroblastoma is the most common abdominal cancer in infants and the most common extracranial tumor of solid tissue in children. It is one of the few tumors that can spontaneously resolve. The following steps will show how to diagnose a neuroblastoma. Expect the symptoms of a neuroblastoma to be highly variable depending on its location, degree of metastasis and by-products produced. Most neuroblastomas are in the abdomen, especially the adrenal gland so the most common complaint is fullness or distension of the abdomen. Conduct a complete physical exam. This is important in diagnosing neuroblastomas because of its ability to imitate other diseases. The most common findings may include an enlarged liver, subcutaneous nodules and a large firm abdominal mass. Perform general laboratory studies. Widely disseminated neuroblastoma can cause a
