Disclosures: Nicolet J. Finger: Nothing to disclose

Case Description: A 7-month-old male presented with stage IV neuroblastoma disseminated to his face, groin and testicles. Despite treatment, the patient, now 19, has endured functional complications due to ganglioneuromas in the spine, musculature, gastrointestinal tract and genitourinary tract.

Setting: Cook Children’s Medical Center in Fort Worth, TX.

Patient: A 7-month-old male presented with stage IV neuroblastoma.

Assessment/Results: The resulting functional complications have included scoliosis, neuropathy, difficulty ambulating, and bowel and bladder obstruction. Throughout the years, this patient has had regular appointments with rehabilitation and oncology healthcare professionals. Long-term, multidisciplinary management has led to improvements in his physical functioning, allowing for more independence in activities of daily living and the ability to attend school. Combined with pain management, this approach has increased his quality of life.

Discussion: Neuroblastoma (NBL) is the most common malignant extracranial tumor in pediatrics and may mature into a tumor known as ganglioneuroma (GN). Though GN is benign, it has the potential to cause severe symptoms related to adjacent structures or organs. Cases of GN causing complications such as scoliosis, neuropathy, and difficulty with gait have been reported. These complications require extensive rehabilitation. This case raises the issue that preventative and rehabilitative interventions need to be integrated into the fabric of cancer care.

Conclusion: Treatment of patients with neuroblastoma and its complications requires interdisciplinary care by experienced providers. Bridging the gap between oncology and rehabilitation healthcare providers can be challenging but is an important goal to provide the best possible care for cancer survivors. It is imperative that rehabilitative interventions be integrated into cancer care as a distinct phase of treatment with emphasis placed on quality of life. In addition, oncology rehabilitation research needs to be a priority to document effective, evidence-based care in this population.

Level of Evidence: Level V

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PM&R Meeting Abstracts - https://pmrjabstracts.org/abstract/the-necessity-of-physical-medicine-and-rehabilitation-in-a-neuroblastoma-patient-due-to-functional-disability-caused-by-benign-tumors-a-case-study/