Retroperitoneal neuroblastoma in adult: a case report and review of the literature.

Retroperitoneal neuroblastoma is a rare embryonic tumor of the sympathetic nervous system that is specific to the child. In this study, the case is re ported of an infant who underwent median laparotomy at the age of 14 months for a tumor which occupied the left half of the abdomen. The lesion was la rge, hard, and not very mobile. It was considered to be unresectable, and t he histological findings after biopsy showed it to be a neuroblastoma. Radi otherapy was then initiated, which successfully reduced the tumor size. A s econd investigation at the age of three years detected an unresectable tumo r of 5 cm. A further biopsy was performed, and the histological findings sh owed the lesion to be a partially developed ganglioneuroblastoma. The patie nt has been followed up regularly by ultrasonography which has shown no inc rease in tumor size. She is now 20 years old, and is asymptomatic. The last computed tomography scan visualized a 62-mm retroperitoneal mass with no m etastases. Surgery was decided against in favor of regular monitoring. This case is particular due to the prolonged survival of the patient, regressio n of histological stage, and reduction in size of the tumor after radiother apy. It is remarkable that the diagnosis of neuroblastoma was made when the patient was 14 months old, and that she is still alive at 20 years old. (C ) 2001 Editions scientifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS.