Neonatal hypertension and cardiomegaly associated with a congenital neuroblastoma

A neonate who died 12 days after birth from complications related to a congenital neuroblastoma is described. Hypertension and congestive heart failure occurred soon after birth. Hospital course was marked by a consumptive coagulopathy and the development of acute renal and hepatic failure. At autopsy the heart was hypertrophied but normally formed. Although there was elevated urinary excretion of vanilmandelic acid and homovanillic acid, levels of epinephrine, norepinephrine, metanephrine, and normetanephrine were not documented. This case shows that a congenital neuroblastoma may be associated with hypertension and cardiomegaly in the neonatal period.