What is the Difference Between Neuroblastoma and Pheochromocytoma

The key difference between neuroblastoma and pheochromocytoma is that neuroblastoma is a cancer that develops from immature nerve cells found in areas such as the adrenal medulla, abdomen, chest, neck, and near the spine, while pheochromocytoma is a small vascular cancer that develops from chromaffin cells mainly found in the adrenal medulla of one or both of adrenal glands.

Adrenal glands are small glands that make steroid hormones and other hormones like adrenaline and noradrenaline. Neuroblastoma and pheochromocytoma are cancers that can occur in the adrenal gland. However, neuroblastoma is sometimes found elsewhere in the body as well. Neuroblastoma often develops in immature nerve cells of the medulla of the adrenal glands or other areas such as the abdomen, chest, neck, and near the spine. On the other hand, pheochromocytoma is always associated with the adrenal glands, and it is a small vascular cancer.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Neuroblastoma 
3. What is Pheochromocytoma
4. Similarities – Neuroblastoma and Pheochromocytoma
5. Neuroblastoma vs. Pheochromocytoma in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Neuroblastoma vs. Pheochromocytoma

What is Neuroblastoma?

Neuroblastoma is a cancer that often develops in immature nerve cells of the medulla of the adrenal glands or in other nerve ganglia of the sympathetic system of the body. It is also found in other areas such as the abdomen, chest, neck, and near the spine. Neuroblastoma mainly affects young children and infants. The symptoms of neuroblastoma may include abdominal pain, a mass or lump under the skin that is not tender when touched, changes in bowel habits, diarrhea, constipation, wheezing, chest pain, changes in eyes such as proptosis, dark circles around the eyes, back pain, fever, unexplained weight loss, and bone pain. Moreover, mutations in the ALK and PHOX2B genes are associated with increasing the risk of developing sporadic and familial neuroblastoma.

Neuroblastoma is diagnosed through physical examination, urine test, blood test, X-ray, CT scan, MRI, biopsy, and bone marrow sampling. Furthermore, treatment options for neuroblastoma may include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, bone marrow transplant, immunotherapy, and newer techniques, such as a radioactive form of the chemical metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG).

What is Pheochromocytoma?

Pheochromocytoma is a benign small vascular cancer that develops from chromaffin cells in the adrenal medulla. Pheochromocytoma is mainly affecting adults rather than children. The symptoms of this condition may include high blood pressure, headache, heavy sweating, fast or rapid heartbeat, tremors, pallor, shortness of breath, panic attacks, anxiety, burring vision, constipation, and weight loss. Moreover, SDHB gene mutation has been implicated as the most common cause in the pathogenesis of pheochromocytoma.

Pheochromocytoma is diagnosed through physical examination, CT scan, MRI, iodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) imaging, positron emission tomography (PET), and genetic testing. Furthermore, treatment options for pheochromocytoma may include surgery to remove the tumor, targeted therapy, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy.

What are the Similarities Between Neuroblastoma and Pheochromocytoma?

• Neuroblastoma and pheochromocytoma can occur in the adrenal glands
• Both these cancers can sometimes show similar symptoms, such as constipation, weight loss, eye problems, etc.
• Both these cancers can be diagnosed through physical examination, imaging tests, and genetic testing.
• They are mainly treated through surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy.

What is the Difference Between Neuroblastoma and Pheochromocytoma?

Neuroblastoma is a cancer that develops in immature nerve cells found in areas such as the adrenal medulla, abdomen, chest, neck, and near the spine, while pheochromocytoma is a small vascular cancer that develops from chromaffin cells mainly found in the adrenal medulla of adrenal glands. Thus, this is the key difference between neuroblastoma and pheochromocytoma. Furthermore, neuroblastoma mainly affects young children and infants. On the other hand, pheochromocytoma mainly affects adults rather than children.

The infographic below presents the differences between neuroblastoma and pheochromocytoma in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.

Summary – Neuroblastoma vs. Pheochromocytoma

Neuroblastoma and pheochromocytoma are two common neural crest-derived tumors that can occur in the adrenal glands. Pheochromocytoma is often found in the adrenal gland, while neuroblastoma is sometimes found elsewhere in the body. So this is the key difference between neuroblastoma and pheochromocytoma. However, both these conditions can be treated by removing the tumor through surgical procedures.

Reference:

1. “Neuroblastoma.” Cincinnati Children’s.
2. “Pheochromocytoma.” Mayo Clinic.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Neuroblastoma metastasis” By Animalculist – Own work (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Histopathology of pheochromocytoma” By Mikael Häggström – Own work (CC0) via CommonsWikimedia