Neuroblastoma in a Newborn – An Easily Overlooked Entity

Introduction

Neuroblastoma is the most frequent malignant tumor in early life. Neuroblastomas may be present in situ in microscopic size in fetuses and neonates dying of other diseases. Most of these precursors of malignant neuroblastoma will disappear within the first three months of life (Beckwith JB, Perrin EV. Amer J Path 1963; 43:1089 – 1104). The great majority of neuroblastomas diagnosed prenatally and in newborns occur in the adrenals (Isaacs H. Fetal and Pediatric Pathology 2007; 26: 177 – 184). Tumors in the adrenal glands are easily detected with prenatal ultrasound (US) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Other sites of this tumor in early life are in the neck, in the chest following the developing sympathetic chain and in the retroperitoneal space associated with the sympathetic para-aortic trunks.