Primary pediatric neuroblastic tumors of the neck

Neuroblastic tumors are the third most common cause of solid tumors in earl y childhood. Cervical tumors account for only 5% of cases. In this report, we describe a series of four pediatric neuroblastic tumors of the neck. The histological diagnosis was ganglioneuroblastoma in three cases and neurobl astoma in one case. Presenting signs were solitary cervical mass in two cas es and respiratory distress in association with Claude-Bernard Horner's syn drome in two cases. Mean age at presentation was 15 months. Cervical comput ed tomography scan and/or magnetic resonance imaging depicted calcification s within the tumor in 50% of cases and allowed accurate assessment of exten sion. Increased urine catecholamine levels were observed only in the patien t with neuroblastoma. Scintigraphy with [131]iodine-methyliodobenzylguanidi ne demonstrated selective uptake by the tumor in two cases. Amplification o f N-myc oncogene, a documented unfavorable prognostic sign, was not found i n any case. Surgical treatment was performed in all patients. Neoadjuvant c hemotherapy was performed in one case. All patients underwent regular surve illance. No evidence of recurrence has been observed with a mean follow-up period of 7 years. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserv ed.