What is Neuroblastoma: Why It Affects Infants and Toddlers, Expert Shares

Neuroblastoma is one of the most frequent cancers diagnosed in infants, but it is still a mystery for many parents and caregivers. The fact that neuroblastoma is a cancer of the developing nervous system explains its prevalence in infants and preschool children. Early awareness of the disease, its symptoms, and why young children are more vulnerable can make a critical difference in outcomes.

So to better understand this, the editorial team of Onlymyhealth reached out to Dr Brunda M S, Senior Consultant - Internal Medicine, Aster CMI Hospital, Bangalore, and she explained that neuroblastoma is closely linked to how a child’s nervous system develops in the earliest stages of life. “It is a tumor composed of immature nerve cells called neuroblasts and mostly found in babies and toddlers since the nerves are still growing at that time,” she said. Read ahead to know everything she shared with us.

What Is Neuroblastoma?

Neuroblastoma is a malignancy that originates from neuroblasts, i.e. the embryonic nerve cells which are constituents of the sympathetic nervous system. This system governs essential involuntary processes like the heart rate, blood pressure, and digestion. During gestation and early postnatal period, neuroblasts normally undergo maturation to become functional nerve cells. However, in rare cases, children are born with such an abnormality and instead of dying, these cells grow uncontrollably and form a tumour.

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The most frequent site for the cancer to start is the adrenal glands located above the kidneys. Besides, it can also emerge in neuronal tissues along the spine, chest, abdomen, or neck. As these nerve cells are distributed all over the body, unexpected neuroblastoma can be found in different places and might even invade bones, liver, or lymph nodes.

Why Does Neuroblastoma Mostly Affect Infants and Toddlers?

The strong age connection is one of the defining features of neuroblastoma. Dr Brunda said, “The very young ones are the ones that suffer the most simply because their nervous system is still in the process of developing”.

Neuroblasts are formed in large numbers in the fetal stage and over the first couple of years after birth, making them most active during this time. These immature cells either grow up or vanish as the children get older, and that's also the reason why neuroblastoma is rare after age five.

In most cases, the precise reason for neuroblastoma remains a mystery. The majority of children who are diagnosed with the condition do not have a hereditary background of cancer. Instead of lifestyle or environmental factors, genetic mutations that happen accidentally during early development are thought to be responsible for cancer.

Signs and Symptoms Parents Should Watch For

Neuroblastoma symptoms can be subtle and often resemble common childhood illnesses, making early diagnosis challenging. “Symptoms may include a lump, swelling, pain, or tiredness,” added Dr Brunda. Depending on the tumour's location, the child may also experience abdominal swelling, unexplained weight loss, fever, bone pain, or alteration in bowel and bladder habits.

In infants, signs such as excessive crying, refusing to eat, or unusual lumps in the abdomen or neck should be taken very seriously. Since very young children are not able to communicate their pain or discomfort clearly, parents can turn out to be the best allies in the diagnosis process.

Bottomline

Neuroblastoma is a childhood cancer linked to early nerve cell development, and prompt recognition of symptoms in infants and toddlers can significantly improve treatment outcomes.