Paravertebral neuroblastoma in a macerated fetus

A retroperitoneal neuroblastoma (primitive neuroectodermal tumour) occurred in a macerated male fetus of 15 weeks' gestation. Such tumours are rare but probably not as uncommon as the few published case reports imply. In view of the recent conflicting reports on the significance of such cases, the importance of this abnormality is discussed. We conclude that histological examination can exclude the possibility of traumatic artifact.