Neuroblastoma

Neuroblastoma is a malignant tumor that forms in the cells of the peripheral nervous system, part of the nervous system consisting of ganglia and nerves that circulates information between the organs and central nervous system (CNS) and responsible for supervising a large number of unconscious activities of the organism such as heartbeat or contraction of smooth muscles.  Although the cancer is more likely to develop in the nerve tissue of the adrenal gland, sometimes it can arises in other body sites where there are sympathetic nerve structures: spine, abdomen and occasionally the chest, neck or pelvis.  

Unlike many other cancers, environmental factors play no role in the occurrence of neuroblastoma. The development of the cancer is most commonly associated with certain syndromes such as neurofibromatosis (Von Recklinhausen disease) and Hirschsprung's disease. 

                                                                           Neuroblastoma Statistics