Neuroblastoma
stands out among pediatric solid
tumors because of its relative frequency, intriguing natural
history, prognostic biologic features, and therapeutic
challenges. It is the most common extracranial pediatric
solid tumor and the most common neoplasm in infancy; >90% of
the
 600
cases diagnosed annually in the United States are in children
 5
y old
Origin from precursors of
the sympathetic nervous system accounts for (a) primary sites
in adrenal glands and in paraspinal locations from neck to
pelvis and (b) high urinary levels of catecholamines
in >90% of cases. This embryonal neoplasm often encases vascular
structures and, unlike most solid cancers, usually presents
with substantial
metastatic disease (bone, bone marrow,
lymph nodes, liver; spread to lung or brain is rare). Hence,
defining disease status requires CT (or MRI), bone scan,
metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) scan, bone marrow tests, and
urine catecholamine measurements
*
Catecholamines - Urine
Alternate Names : Adrenalin-Urine Test,
Dopamine-Urine Test, Epinephrine-Urine Test, Homovanillic Acid (HVA),
HVA, Metanephrine, Norepinephrine-Urine Test, Normetanephrine, Urine
Catecholamines, Urine Metanephrine, Vanillylmandelic Acid (VMA), VMA
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What
abnormal results mean: |
Elevated levels of
urinary catecholamines may indicate:
- acute anxiety
-
ganglioblastoma (very rare)
- ganglioneuroma
(very rare)
- neuroblastoma
(rare)
-
pheochromocytoma (rare)
- severe stress
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