Two cases of neuroblastoma presenting to the emergency department

Neuroblastoma is the second most common malignant solid tumor in the pediatric population. Recent advances in treatment options and identification of prognostic subsets have made early detection important. Early classification into a favorable stage and subset may carry a 10-year survival of about 90% (1). With newer treatment regimens, the probability of long-term survival in patients with metastatic disease has also increased about fourfold since 1979 (2). Emergency physicians can contribute to improved morbidity and mortality with appropriate evaluation and disposition of the patient presenting with neuroblastoma. Two patients, a 6-month-old and a 2-week-old, presented to the Emergency Department with weakness. Both had a presumptive diagnosis of neuroblastoma made by the emergency physician. A brief discussion of the incidence, presentation, and diagnosis of neuroblastoma follows.