title: Neuroblastoma of the elderly, an oncologist's nightmare: case presentation, literature review and SEER database analysis.
abstract: Neuroblastoma is considered a pediatric malignancy as over 95% of cases are diagnosed in patients ≤10 years old. This cancer is extremely rare in elderly patients. We conducted a Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database analysis in the USA between 1973-2007 that revealed only 35 elderly patients (>60 years of age) with neuroblastoma of whom only 2 patients had primary mediastinal neuroblastoma. There is a paucity of treatment and survival outcomes data for the elderly owing to the rarity of neuroblastoma in this population. Currently there are no standard guidelines or protocols for treatment of adult neuroblastoma. We report a rare and challenging case of an 86-year old patient presenting with mediastinal neuroblastoma and syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH) successfully treated with resection. Herein, we also provide a review of the literature and updated survival data on neuroblastoma based on results of our SEER database review.
authors: University of Arizona College of Medicine, 1501 N. Campbell Ave, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA.|Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, Southern Arizona VA Health Care System, 3601 S 6Th Ave, Tucson, AZ 85723, USA.
authors: Elisa
authors: E
authors: Rogowitz
authors: Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, Southern Arizona VA Health Care System, 3601 S 6Th Ave, Tucson, AZ 85723, USA.|Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Arizona College of Medicine, 1501 North Campbell Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA.|Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Arizona Cancer Center, 1515 N Campbell Ave, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA.
authors: Hani M
authors: HM
authors: Babiker
authors: Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, Southern Arizona VA Health Care System, 3601 S 6Th Ave, Tucson, AZ 85723, USA.|Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Arizona College of Medicine, 1501 North Campbell Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA.|Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Arizona Cancer Center, 1515 N Campbell Ave, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA.
authors: Mohammed
authors: M
authors: Kanaan
authors: Department of Pathology, University of Arizona College of Medicine, 1501 North Campbell Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA.
authors: Rebecca A
authors: RA
authors: Millius
authors: Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, Southern Arizona VA Health Care System, 3601 S 6Th Ave, Tucson, AZ 85723, USA.
authors: Q Scott
authors: QS
authors: Ringenberg
authors: Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, Southern Arizona VA Health Care System, 3601 S 6Th Ave, Tucson, AZ 85723, USA.|Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Arizona College of Medicine, 1501 North Campbell Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA.|Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Arizona Cancer Center, 1515 N Campbell Ave, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA.
authors: Maria
authors: M
authors: Bishop
keywords: Adult; Neuroblastoma; SIADH; Thymus