Ophthalmological manifestations of neuroblastoma – A retrospective multicenter study
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Neuroblastoma (NBL) constitutes the most common extracranial solid tumor in children that arises from the sympathetic ganglia. Its manifestations depend on the localization of the tumor and metastases. This research aimed to assess the incidence of ophthalmological symptoms and their correlations with different prognostic factors. We collected and analyzed retrospectively the data of 776 children with a clinical diagnosis of peripheral neuroblastic tumors reported between 2004 and 2022 from 14 Polish pediatric oncology centers. Ophthalmological symptoms occurred in 17.10% of the patients, and in 12.70% they were diagnosed at the time of the first presentation. The reported manifestations comprised opsoclonus-myoclonus syndrome (OMS), Horner syndrome (HS), exophthalmos, periorbital hemorrhages, with the highest incidence of OMS (4.74% of all the patients). Moreover, we described the cases with neurological manifestations of NBL like paraparesis and facial nerve paresis. The age correlated with the form of symptoms, and HS was observed in the youngest patients. Similarly, the time from the symptoms onset to NBL diagnosis differed significantly among the patients, therefore the diagnosis of HS was associated with the longest period. In conclusion, the ophthalmological manifestations of NBL represent an essential group of symptoms. Therefore, clinicians should consider them as possible signs of tumors, particularly HS, which may be most challenging in the diagnostic process.
Authors: Katarzyna Kuchalska, Katarzyna Derwich, Walentyna Balwierz, Bartosz Urbański, Marek Ussowicz, Anna Tomoń, Anna Pytlik, Małgorzata Sawicka-Żukowska, Julia Geisler-Paliwoda, Danuta Januszkiewicz-Lewandowska, Szymon Janczar, Monika Pogorzała, Aleksandra Kiermasz, Szymon Skoczeń, Krzysztof Kałwak, Ninela Irga-Jaworska, Agnieszka Mizia-Malarz, Jan Styczyński, Katarzyna Drabko, Katarzyna Muszyńska-Rosłan, Katarzyna Machnik, Radosław Chaber, Tomasz Szczepański, Wanda Badowska, Bożenna Dembowska-Bagińska, Anna Gotz-Więckowska
Institutions: Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Jagiellonian University, Medical University of Lodz, University of Wrocław, Wroclaw Medical University, Medical University of Lublin, Medical University of Białystok, Medical University of Silesia, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Gdańsk Medical University, City Hospital, University of Rzeszów, County Hospital, Children's Memorial Health Institute
Language: English
Subfield: Neurology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7154227005