Neuroblastoma is a solid cancerous tumour that forms in nerve cells of infants and young children. Neuroblastoma can originate in nerve tissues of the neck, chest, abdomen, or pelvis, but they most often originate in the tissues of the adrenal gland, situated on top of the kidney. The adrenal glands produce hormones that help control body functions such as heart rate and blood pressure.
Neuroblasts are immature nerve cells found in unborn babies. Normal Neuroblasts mature into nerve cells or adrenal medulla cells (cells found in the centre of the adrenal gland). Neuroblastoma forms when Neuroblasts don't mature properly.

Sometimes, babies are born with small masses of Neuroblasts that eventually mature into nerve cells and do not become cancer. Neuroblasts that do not mature sometimes continue to grow and then form tumours. Other tumours formed from Neuroblasts fail to mature.
Neuroblastoma develop most often in infants and children younger than 5 years old. A Neuroblastoma can form before the baby is born and can sometimes be detected during a prenatal ultrasound examination. Most often, however, Neuroblastoma are detected only after the cancer has spread to other parts of the body such as the lymph nodes, liver, lungs, bones, and bone marrow.

As with most cancers, the cause of neuroblastoma is unknown. As with other cancers it is not infectious and cannot be passed on to other people.

Statistics
Neuroblastoma is the third most common type of childhood cancer in the United States, and accounts for 7.3% of all childhood cancers and 50% of cancers in infants.

Approximately 650 new cases of Neuroblastoma are diagnosed each year in the United States. Almost 90% of Neuroblastoma are diagnosed by age 6. Overall, about 50% to 55% of children with Neuroblastoma can be cured, and 69% of children live at least five years after a Neuroblastoma diagnosis. The cure rate for children with high-risk cancer is less than 30%.

Risk Factors
Neuroblastoma most commonly occurs in children without any family history of Neuroblastoma. The cause is not known. Uncommonly, a child who has one or more family members who developed the disease will be diagnosed with Neuroblastoma. Children with an inherited predisposition tend to develop the disease, on average, nine to 13 months earlier than children who develop non-inherited cases of Neuroblastoma. In children who have a family history of Neuroblastoma, the disease may occur in two or more organs. Neuroblastoma occurs more often in boys than in girls

Symptoms
Neuroblastoma may show the following symptoms—many caused by pressure from the tumour or bone pain once the cancer has spread to the bones:
A lump or mass in the abdomen, chest, neck, or pelvis that a parent may find when bathing the child
Skin lesions or nodules under the skin
Protruding eyes and dark circles under the eyes (if the cancer has spread behind the eyes)
Changes in the eyes such as black eyes, a droopy eyelid, a pupil that is constricted, vision problems, or changes in the colour of the iris
Pain in the chest, difficulty breathing, or persistent cough
Pain in the extremities or other bones
Pain in the back or weakness, numbness, or paralysis of the lower extremities (if the tumour has spread to the spinal cord)
Fever, anaemia, and high blood pressure sometimes occur. Rarely, children will have watery diarrhoea, uncoordinated muscle movements, or uncontrollable eye movements