Neuroblastoma in adults. A report of 3 cases

Well documented as one of the more frequent tumours of childhood, neuroblastomas in adults are rare. Correct diagnosis, and distinction from other small-cell neoplasms, is thus often delayed. Three further cases are described in 2 women and 1 man between the ages of 26 years and 47 years. Metastatic disease existed at the time of initial presentation in 1 patient, while another had experienced multiple recurrences at the primary site before correct diagnosis. All, however, had a favourable response to chemotherapy, albeit in the short term. Primary diagnosis was made by fine-needle aspiration cytology, together with electron microscopic evaluation of aspirated cells in 1 case. The histological, cytological and electron microscopic characteristics of neuroblastomas are presented and illustrated, and their differentiation from other small cell tumours in adults discussed.