Molekulaarbioloogia praksi kontrolltöö vastused
presenting in children younger than 5 years. In rare cases, neuroblastoma can be
discovered prenatally by fetal ultrasonography. Neuroblastoma originates in the adrenal
medulla or the paraspinal sites where sympathetic nervous system tissue is present. The
most common symptoms are due to a tumor mass or to bone pain from metastases.
Proptosis and periorbital ecchymosis are common and arise from retrobulbar metastasis.
Extensive bone marrow metastasis may result in pancytopenia. Abdominal distention
with respiratory compromise due to massive liver metastases occurs in infants. Because
they originate in paraspinal ganglia, neuroblastomas may invade through neural foramina
and compress the spinal cord, causing paralysis. Fever, anemia, and hypertension are
found occasionally. Multifocal neuroblastoma occurs rarely, usually in infants, and
generally has a good prognosis. Rarely, children may have severe watery diarrhea due to
the secretion of vasoactive intestinal peptide by the tumor.