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  • Perinatal/Neonatal Case Presentation
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Perinatal/Neonatal Case Presentation

A catecholamine-secreting neuroblastoma leading to hydrops fetalis

Journal of Perinatology volume 34, pages 405–407 (2014)Cite this article

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Abstract

A case of fetal neuroblastoma of the right adrenal gland, with rapid development of hydrops fetalis due to catecholamine-induced cardiomyopathy, is reported. A fetus with a right suprarenal mass detected during ultrasonography at 32 weeks gestation progressively developed into hydrops fetalis by 35.2 weeks gestation. An emergent cesarean section was performed. At birth, the female neonate was hypertensive, with markedly elevated catecholamine levels; echocardiography showed poor contractility. Morphine, human atrial natriuretic peptide, milrinone, nitroprusside and dobutamine were initiated and her blood pressure was maintained within the normal range and her cardiac contractility improved 2 weeks after birth. Neuroblastoma cells were detected in the placenta, resulting in the right adrenal mass being diagnosed as a neuroblastoma. She was well, and the mass diminished in size within 4 months, without surgery. A fetus with suspected neuroblastoma, indicated by a suprarenal mass, should be managed with appropriate consideration of hydrops.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Shouichiro Amari, MD, Ikuko Hama, MD, Yukiko Tasaki, MD, Masao Kaneshige, MD, Sae Hanai, MD, Yuka Wada, MD, PhD, Shigehiro Takahashi, MD, Hideshi Fujinaga, MD, Keiko Tsukamoto, MD (Center for Maternal–Fetal and Neonatal Medicine, National Center for Child Health and Development) and Yasushi Misaki, MD (Division of Cardiology, National Center for Child Health and Development) for their helpful clinical suggestions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Maternal–Fetal and Neonatal Medicine, National Center for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan

    T Inoue, Y Ito, T Nakamura & H Sago

  2. Department of Pathology, National Center for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan

    K Matsuoka

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  1. T Inoue
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  2. Y Ito
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  3. T Nakamura
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  4. K Matsuoka
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  5. H Sago
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Correspondence to Y Ito.

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Inoue, T., Ito, Y., Nakamura, T. et al. A catecholamine-secreting neuroblastoma leading to hydrops fetalis. J Perinatol 34, 405–407 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1038/jp.2014.19

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/jp.2014.19

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