Neonatal neuroblastoma presented with respiratory distress, a case report

The most common neonatal tumor is neuroblastoma and adrenal gland is the most common site of involvement. 11-26% of this tumor is seen in the thorax of neonates. Due to a similar appearance of the mediastinal tumor with pneumonia, a high index of suspicion is necessary for early diagnosis of this disorder.

A 17-day -old female and term neonate delivered by caesarian section was reported in the study. The mother had a normal pregnancy without any reported complications. The newborn admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in her hometown, because of respiratory distress, stridor, and tachypnea which was started from 7 days of life and due to lack of recovery and persistent respiratory symptoms, the patient referred to our hospital. In chest X-ray, opacity in the right upper lobe of the lung was seen. In barium study, a mass like lesion in the size of 35.34 mm adjacent to upper intra-thoracic esophagus with mild mass effect was observed and in CTS a posterior mediastinal mass with severe compression on the trachea and extension to the spinal canal was reported. Due to severe obstruction on the airway, the baby underwent emergency surgery and a mediastinal mass with adhesion and involvement of the ribs and spinal cord was resected. The final diagnosis of poorly differentiated neuroblastoma was confirmed by biopsy.

In every neonate with persistent respiratory distress, stridor and abnormal chest X-ray, diagnosis of neonatal neuroblastoma should be considered.