Where neuroblastoma can occur

Neuroblastoma develops from immature cells of the sympathetic nervous system. A common starting area is near an adrenal gland in the upper abdomen. It can also arise beside the spine in the chest, abdomen or pelvis, or in the neck. A tumour may press on nearby organs, nerves, blood vessels or the spinal canal.

The site helps explain symptoms, but symptoms vary. Abdominal disease may cause fullness or discomfort; chest disease may affect breathing; pelvic disease may affect bladder or bowel function; and neck disease may cause a visible lump or changes around an eye. These symptoms also have other possible causes.

Doctors use examination and imaging to map the tumour and check its relationship with important structures. Blood and urine tests, and sometimes a biopsy or other assessment, add information about the tumour’s biology. Options may include monitoring, [Tumour Removal Surgery](/treatments/surgical-oncology/tumour-removal-surgery/), [Chemotherapy](/treatments/systemic-therapy/chemotherapy/), or [Targeted Radioisotope Therapy](/treatments/radiation-oncology/targeted-radioisotope-therapy/). The safest sequence depends on the site and the child’s needs.

Seek urgent medical help for breathing difficulty, new leg weakness, loss of bladder or bowel control, severe pain, a seizure, sudden vision change, or a rapidly enlarging abdominal or neck swelling. These signs can indicate pressure on sensitive structures and should not wait for a routine appointment.

Ask exactly where the tumour starts, whether it touches the spinal canal or major vessels, and what imaging has shown. Ask whether the location changes the order of treatment, what symptoms to monitor at home, and how follow-up will check nearby organ function.