Neuroblastoma in the Elderly and SIADH: Case Report and Review of the Literature

Objective. To report the rare case of a thymic neuroblastoma, in an elderly woman with SIADH at presentation. Methods. Clinical and biochemical data of the patient are presented and the pertinent literature is reviewed. Results. a 79-year-old woman was admitted into our department with worsening ast...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Micaela Pellegrino, Laura Gianotti, Sara Cassibba, Rodolfo Brizio, Alberto Terzi, Giorgio Borretta
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2012-01-01
Series:Case Reports in Medicine
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/952645
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850220289258946560
author Micaela Pellegrino
Laura Gianotti
Sara Cassibba
Rodolfo Brizio
Alberto Terzi
Giorgio Borretta
author_facet Micaela Pellegrino
Laura Gianotti
Sara Cassibba
Rodolfo Brizio
Alberto Terzi
Giorgio Borretta
author_sort Micaela Pellegrino
collection DOAJ
description Objective. To report the rare case of a thymic neuroblastoma, in an elderly woman with SIADH at presentation. Methods. Clinical and biochemical data of the patient are presented and the pertinent literature is reviewed. Results. a 79-year-old woman was admitted into our department with worsening asthenia, severe hyponatremia (114.8 mEq/L), low plasma osmolarity (253 mEq/L), and inappropriate urinary sodium concentration (151 mEq/L). CT scan showed an a large solid inhomogeneous mass in the anterior mediastinum. 18F-FDG-PET/CT showed uptake in the mass. On continuous 3% hypertonic saline infusion, sodium gradually increased without achieving normal values. The patient underwent surgery, followed by full normalization of sodium levels. Tumor cells were positive for neuroendocrine markers. Thymic neuroblastoma with SIADH was diagnosed. Conclusions. Neuroblastoma is an extremely rare tumor in the elderly. Contrary to children and younger adults, neuroblastoma in older adults is typically localized in the anterior mediastinum and is often associated with SIADH. Moreover, it has mainly local aggressiveness in this age group, without metastatic spread; thus radical surgery achieves cure in most cases.
format Article
id doaj-art-77fea7f98aea4ff2955b770d322e16c9
institution OA Journals
issn 1687-9627
1687-9635
language English
publishDate 2012-01-01
publisher Wiley
record_format Article
series Case Reports in Medicine
spelling doaj-art-77fea7f98aea4ff2955b770d322e16c92025-08-20T02:07:06ZengWileyCase Reports in Medicine1687-96271687-96352012-01-01201210.1155/2012/952645952645Neuroblastoma in the Elderly and SIADH: Case Report and Review of the LiteratureMicaela Pellegrino0Laura Gianotti1Sara Cassibba2Rodolfo Brizio3Alberto Terzi4Giorgio Borretta5Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, S. Croce e Carle Hospital, Via M. Coppino 26, 12100 Cuneo, ItalyDivision of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, S. Croce e Carle Hospital, Via M. Coppino 26, 12100 Cuneo, ItalyDivision of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, S. Croce e Carle Hospital, Via M. Coppino 26, 12100 Cuneo, ItalyDepartment of Pathology, S. Croce e Carle Hospital, Via M. Coppino 26, 12100 Cuneo, ItalyThoracic Surgery Unit, S. Croce e Carle Hospital, Via M. Coppino 26, 12100 Cuneo, ItalyDivision of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, S. Croce e Carle Hospital, Via M. Coppino 26, 12100 Cuneo, ItalyObjective. To report the rare case of a thymic neuroblastoma, in an elderly woman with SIADH at presentation. Methods. Clinical and biochemical data of the patient are presented and the pertinent literature is reviewed. Results. a 79-year-old woman was admitted into our department with worsening asthenia, severe hyponatremia (114.8 mEq/L), low plasma osmolarity (253 mEq/L), and inappropriate urinary sodium concentration (151 mEq/L). CT scan showed an a large solid inhomogeneous mass in the anterior mediastinum. 18F-FDG-PET/CT showed uptake in the mass. On continuous 3% hypertonic saline infusion, sodium gradually increased without achieving normal values. The patient underwent surgery, followed by full normalization of sodium levels. Tumor cells were positive for neuroendocrine markers. Thymic neuroblastoma with SIADH was diagnosed. Conclusions. Neuroblastoma is an extremely rare tumor in the elderly. Contrary to children and younger adults, neuroblastoma in older adults is typically localized in the anterior mediastinum and is often associated with SIADH. Moreover, it has mainly local aggressiveness in this age group, without metastatic spread; thus radical surgery achieves cure in most cases.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/952645
spellingShingle Micaela Pellegrino
Laura Gianotti
Sara Cassibba
Rodolfo Brizio
Alberto Terzi
Giorgio Borretta
Neuroblastoma in the Elderly and SIADH: Case Report and Review of the Literature
Case Reports in Medicine
title Neuroblastoma in the Elderly and SIADH: Case Report and Review of the Literature
title_full Neuroblastoma in the Elderly and SIADH: Case Report and Review of the Literature
title_fullStr Neuroblastoma in the Elderly and SIADH: Case Report and Review of the Literature
title_full_unstemmed Neuroblastoma in the Elderly and SIADH: Case Report and Review of the Literature
title_short Neuroblastoma in the Elderly and SIADH: Case Report and Review of the Literature
title_sort neuroblastoma in the elderly and siadh case report and review of the literature
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/952645
work_keys_str_mv AT micaelapellegrino neuroblastomaintheelderlyandsiadhcasereportandreviewoftheliterature
AT lauragianotti neuroblastomaintheelderlyandsiadhcasereportandreviewoftheliterature
AT saracassibba neuroblastomaintheelderlyandsiadhcasereportandreviewoftheliterature
AT rodolfobrizio neuroblastomaintheelderlyandsiadhcasereportandreviewoftheliterature
AT albertoterzi neuroblastomaintheelderlyandsiadhcasereportandreviewoftheliterature
AT giorgioborretta neuroblastomaintheelderlyandsiadhcasereportandreviewoftheliterature