Congenital Neuroblastoma with a Progressive Course in a Neonate

Authors

  • Fatma Cakmak Celik Neonatologist, Department of Pediatrics, Neonatology Division, University of Health Sciences, Hamidiye International Medical Faculty, Kartal Dr Lutfi Kirdar City Hospital, Istanbul, Türkiye
  • Fatma Kaya Narter Neonatologist, Department of Pediatrics, Neonatology Division, University of Health Sciences, Hamidiye International Medical Faculty, Kartal Dr Lutfi Kirdar City Hospital, Istanbul, Türkiye
  • Asli Turgutoglu Yilmaz Department of Pediatrics, Hematology and Oncology Division, University of Health Sciences, Hamidiye International Medical Faculty, Kartal Dr Lutfi Kirdar City Hospital, Istanbul, Türkiye
  • Emine Caliskan Department of Radiology, University of Health Sciences, Hamidiye International Medical Faculty, Kartal Dr Lutfi Kirdar City Hospital, Istanbul, Türkiye
  • Yilmaz Ay Department of Pediatrics, Hematology and Oncology Division, University of Health Sciences, Hamidiye International Medical Faculty, Kartal Dr Lutfi Kirdar City Hospital, Istanbul, Türkiye
  • Canan Ceran Ozcan Department of Pediatric Surgery, University of Health Sciences, Hamidiye International Medical Faculty, Kartal Dr Lutfi Kirdar Education and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Türkiye
  • Aysen Guler Department of Pathology, Kartal Dr Lutfi Kirdar Education and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Türkiye

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18502/ijpho.v16i4.22762

Keywords:

Abdomen, Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase, MYCN Proto-Oncogene Protein, Neuroblastoma

Abstract

Background: Neuroblastoma can arise throughout the sympathoadrenal axis. It is one of the most common extracranial solid tumors in children, which accounts for about 6-10 % of all childhood cancers. Congenital neuroblastoma accounts for 5% of total neuroblastoma cases and is mostly diagnosed in the neonatal period. Treatment is individualized, and prognosis depends on many factors, including the grade of tumor.  In the neonatal period, most cases of this condition regress spontaneously, with a good prognosis.

Case Presentation: A male infant born at 37 weeks of gestation with a birth weight of 3580 grams was admitted to our emergency service on the 19th day of his life. He had abdominal distention that started when the baby was 11 days old, which increased for the next five days. The case was considered to have infantile colic in another clinic and was followed until he was admitted to our hospital. Then, imaging techniques were used, and he was diagnosed with congenital neuroblastoma with massive hepatic involvement. The diagnosis was confirmed by pathologic evaluation in our Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). He was intubated until he died on the 38th day of his life due to disseminated intravascular coagulation and shock without responding to chemotherapy.

Conclusion: We want to emphasize that abdominal distention in the neonatal period should be evaluated carefully to diagnose and treat such life-threatening diseases as neuroblastoma. 

 

Published

2026-09-22

Issue

Volume (16) issue (4)

Section

Articles