INTRAOPERATIVE DISCOVERY OF NEUROBLASTOMA IN AN INFANT WITH PULMONARYATRESIA

There have been 28 previously reported cases of neuroblastoma associat ed with congenital heart disease. Because many of these have been defe cts of the conotruncal region, it has been proposed that abnormal neur al crest cell migration or maturation may be a factor that links these normally disparate pathologic conditions. Most neuroblastomas in thes e cases have been detected at autopsy or by radiologic studies conduct ed in the evaluation of the cardiac anomalies. Recently, we discovered an occult posterior mediastinal neuroblastoma in a patient undergoing a unifocalization procedure for tetralogy of Fallot with pulmonary at resia and major aortopulmonary collaterals. The tumor was resected, an d the patient has demonstrated no evidence of residual or metastatic n euroblastoma. (C) 1997 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons.