Spontaneous Regression of an Untreated Neuroblastoma

Case Details

Personal Characteristics

A baby boy, born at full-term after a normal gestation on september 9, 1949

Clinical Characteristics

Swelling on the outer side of the right eye, large abdominal mass, numerous small lumps in the skin, smooth, fluctuant swelling at the right upper lid, right parietal region, and on the right ramus of the mandible, small swellings on several ribs as well as in the subcutaneous tissue of the chest and left axilla, deposits of secondary tumours in the frontal, parietal, and sphenoidal bones, abdominal mass occupying the entire left upper quadrant, right and left mucopurulent conjunctivitis and right scleritis, enlarged right lacrimal gland and displacement of the eye downwards and inwards, diffuse soft swelling of the upper eyelid, large tumour involving the right upper lid extending back to the orbit, right eye displaced downwards, soft swelling of the right temporal fossa and behind the right ear, swelling of the right temporal region, right upper lid was edematous and ptosed, limitation of elevation and abduction

Remission Characteristics

Most of the secondaries had disappeared and the primary swelling was considerably smaller, only one-third of its original size

Treatment & Mechanisms

Proposed Remission Mechanisms

Spontaneous cure

Additional Notes

The mother was reluctant for treatment to be undertaken, hence no therapy was given. The case is interesting as spontaneous cure appears to have taken place in the presence of bony metastases with no therapy.