Congenital dumbbell neuroblastoma mimicking birth trauma

• Published in: Journal of neurology, neurosurgery and psychiatry neurosurgery and psychiatry, 2005-01, Vol.76 (1), p.143-144
• Main Authors: Nejat, F, Zabihyan Sigarchi, S, IzadYar, M
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Abdomen; Biopsy; Chemotherapy; Childbirth & labor; congenital neuroblastoma; Diagnosis, Differential; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Letter; Male; neonate; Neuroblastoma; Neuroblastoma - congenital; Neuroblastoma - diagnosis; NMR; Nuclear magnetic resonance; Obstetrics; Paralysis, Obstetric - diagnosis; Retroperitoneal Neoplasms - congenital; Retroperitoneal Neoplasms - diagnosis; Spinal cord; unilateral leg palsy
• ISSN: 0022-3050; 1468-330X
• DOI: 10.1136/jnnp.2003.027912

Early diagnosis can improve outcome, 2, 3 and neuroblastoma diagnosed even in the prenatal period has been reported to have excellent prognosis. 4 Although congenital dumbbell neuroblastomas are rare, spinal cord compression and involvement of the peripheral nerves or nerve plexus are not uncommon with abdominal neuroblastoma. 5 The incidence of intraspinal involvement of neuroblastoma varies between 6% and 24%. 6, 7 Intraspinal neuroblastoma is a direct extension of a peripheral tumour. 8 Dumbbell neuroblastoma is the commonest malignant cause of spinal cord or nerve root compression in young children and is regarded as an unresectable tumour. 7 Chemotherapy should be considered for patients with partial deficits and surgical decompression should be reserved for children with recent onset of severe neurological dysfunction or deterioration in a 24-72 hour period. 7 We treated case 1 with chemotherapy only, because his neurological deficit had been observed four months ago and was not progressive.