Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 6, 2026
Author Spotlight: Genetically Engineered Mouse Models and Pathological Characterization of Neurofibromatosis Type 1 Associated Tumors
Published on: May 17, 2024
Different Kinds of Paraneoplastic Syndromes in Childhood Neuroblastoma
Yu-Tong Zhang1, Li-Hua Feng2, Zhen Zhang3
1Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China.
Background:
Clinical presentations of paraneoplastic syndromes in neuroblastoma may multiply. Review of the clinical data and the literature on this syndrome may help in the diagnosis of neuroblastoma.
Objectives:
In order to make more accurate diagnosis, we reviewed the clinical data and the literature on this syndrome.
Patients And Methods:
Between April 2007 and April 2012, 68 children were diagnosed with neuroblastoma or ganglioneuroblastoma in our institution, 9 of which presented exclusively with paraneoplastic syndromes and were not treated with chemotherapy prior to diagnosis. After the diagnosis, all patients received chemotherapy and operation on NB97 protocol.
Results:
Among 68 pediatric patients with neuroblastoma or ganglioneuroblastoma, 4 (5.9%) patients suffered from neurological complications at diagnosis, 2 (2.9%) patients had digestive tract disorders, 2 (2.9%) patients had immune diseases, and 1 (1.5%) suffered from hematological disorder (without bone marrow involvement). All paraneoplastic syndrome patients achieved complete remission on paraneoplastic syndrome before completion of chemotherapy.
Conclusions:
Neuroblastoma may present with a range of non-specific neurologic symptoms in addition to the well-known opsoclonus-myoclonus syndrome and cerebellar ataxia. In any case, the presence of unexplained neurologic manifestations and other common clinical presentations such as rash, constipation, diarrhea, and especially immune disorders in an otherwise healthy child had raised the possibility of paraneoplastic syndrome due to the presence of an undiagnosed tumor.
