Neuroblastomas release hormones that cause changes in a child’s body called paraneoplastic syndrome (symptoms that develop when cancer cells release certain chemicals). In some children, such symptoms are the first indicators of the condition. Paraneoplastic symptoms include rapid, dancing eye movements; rhythmic jerking, protruding abdomen and diarrhea. At times, tumors are identified by x-rays that are taken for an unrelated condition.  

Neuroblastoma symptoms may also vary with the location of the tumors. If the tumor is compressing a certain part of the brain or spinal cord, it may affect the functions controlled by that part of the nervous system. Also, hormones released from the cancer cells can affect specific functions (e.g., tumors in the adrenal glands can affect blood pressure). The most common symptoms of neuroblastoma include:

• Pressure from the growing tumor
  
  
• Abdominal mass that may or may not cause pain (possibly due to spread to the liver)
  
  
• Constipation or compression of the bowel
  
  
• Weight loss or failure to thrive
  
  
• Difficulty swallowing or walking
  
  
• Bone pain from cancer that has spread
  
  
• Protruding eyes or dark circles if the cancer is behind the eye
  
  
• Compression of the spinal cord causing pain or paralysis
  
  
• Pale skin or skin lesions (when the disease has spread)
  
  
• Chronic fatigue and tiredness
  
  
• Irritability and poor temper control
  
  
• Difficulty breathing

Infrequent symptoms include:

• Fever
• Anemia (low number of red blood cells)
• High blood pressure or rapid pulse (from adrenal gland activity)
• Profuse sweating and flushing skin

Rare symptoms include:

• Severe diarrhea
• Opsoclonus (rotary eye movements)
• Myoclonus (jerky muscle movements)