Definition of Ganglioneuroblastoma
Ganglioneuroblastoma is an intermediate tumor arising from nerve tissue. An intermediate tumor is one that is between benign (slow-growing and unlikely to spread) and malignant (fast-growing, aggressive, and likely to spread).
Causes, incidence, and risk factors
This rare tumor has a yearly occurrence of less than 5 per 1,000,000 children.
Symptoms
Most commonly, a mass can be felt in the abdomen, but this condition may also occur in other parts of the body.
Treatment
Because these tumors are rare, they should be treated in a specialized center by experts who have experience with them.
Expectations (prognosis)
The prognosis depends on the extent of the tumor and whether or not some areas of the tumor contain the more aggressive cells of a neuroblastoma.
Review
David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc., and Yi-Bin Chen, MD, Leukemia/Bone Marrow Transplant Program, Massachusetts General Hospital. – 3/2/2010
