Retropharyngeal Neuroblastoma in an Infant

Kim

et al. 2017

J Korean Soc Radiol

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Primary Retropharyngeal Neuroblastoma in an Infant: A Case Report with Literature Review

Kim

et al. 2017

J Korean Soc Radiol

Journal of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology

Management of Cervicomediastinal Neuroblastoma Presenting With Life-threatening Tracheal Obstruction in Infancy

Komuro

Hoshino²

2013

The authors report on 3 infants below 6 months of age at diagnosis, with cervicomediastinal neuroblastoma who presented with life-threatening tracheal obstruction as an oncologic emergency. These neuroblastomas were characterized by favorable biology and chemoresistance. All initially grew rapidly before spontaneously regressing. Nerve injuries occurred in all patients as a result of tumor location. Maintenance of the airway until the expected spontaneous regression was a critical component in the management of these patients.

Indian Pediatrics Case Reports

Spontaneously Regressing Retropharyngeal Neuroblastoma – A Rare Cause of Upper Airway Obstruction in a Neonate: A Case Report with Review of Literature

Piridi,

Manugu,

Kamuni

et al. 2024

Background: Retropharyngeal masses may rarely cause persistent respiratory distress, stridor, and feeding difficulties in a neonate. We report a rare case of a primary cervical neuroblastoma presenting as a retropharyngeal mass, which underwent spontaneous regression. Clinical Description: A 29-day-old male baby was referred for recurrent vomiting since day 10 of life followed by severe difficulty in breathing since day 14 of life. At admission, the baby had stridor, cyanosis with respiratory failure, without any facial dysmorphism or cardiovascular involvement. Management and Outcome: After initial stabilization, investigations showed pneumonia in chest X-ray, with no evidence of sepsis. On intubation, a retropharyngeal bulge was noticed which was later confirmed by direct laryngoscopy. Later, computed tomography delineated the soft-tissue mass extending from C2–C5. Endoscopy with marsupialization of the tumor was done, and on histopathological examination, it was diagnosed as a small round blue cell tumor, suggestive of neuroblastoma, along with positive immunohistochemistry. According to the International Neuroblastoma Staging System, the tumor belonged to Stage I. As the baby had started improving clinically, further management by a multidisciplinary team was collectively decided to continue conservative observation. On follow-up, there was spontaneous regression in size of tumor with no recurrence of symptoms till the last follow-up at 11 months. Conclusion: Neuroblastoma, the most common solid tumor malignancy in children, may rarely have a primary cervical presentation, causing breathing and feeding difficulties. Depending on the course of symptoms, a strategy of observation and close monitoring by a multidisciplinary team can be taken, as such tumors may regress spontaneously.