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Citation:
Radswiki T, Bickle I, Rasuli B, et al. Fetal neuroblastoma. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 23 Mar 2025) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-13813
Fetal neuroblastoma is a type of congenital neuroblastoma (neuroblastoma arising in utero).
The estimated incidence is at ~1 in 20,000 births.
In the vast majority (~90%) of cases fetal neuroblastomas arise in the adrenal glands. They have been diagnosed as early as 19 weeks of gestation, but usually are seen in the third trimester (with mean age at diagnosis being ~36 weeks).
Location
There may be a right-sided predilection.
Ultrasound
They are typically seen as a complex mass with cystic components (~50% 10) around the expected position of the fetal adrenal gland. Some lesions may appear entirely solid or predominantly cystic.
Color Doppler interrogation often shows diffuse vascularity rather than a single feeding vessel.
Staging
Staging is similar to standard neuroblastoma staging.
Treatment and prognosis
In almost all cases the tumor undergoes maturation and regression, and prognosis is excellent (in contrast to childhood neuroblastoma) with many institutions recommending conservative management.
For ultrasound appearances consider:
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