Fewer than 100 children are diagnosed with neuroblastoma in the UK each year. Most children who get this cancer are younger than five years old. Neuroblastoma is the second most common solid tumour in childhood and makes up two in 25 (8%) of the total number of children's cancers.

Neuroblastoma is a cancer of specialised nerve cells, called neural crest cells. These cells are involved in the development of the nervous system and other tissues.

Neuroblastoma can occur anywhere in the body, but it most often occurs in one of the adrenal glands in the abdomen (tummy). The adrenal glands are specialised glands which are found above the kidneys. They release hormones to maintain blood pressure, and enable us to respond to stress.

In some children, the neuroblastoma can occur in nerve tissue alongside the spinal cord in the neck, chest, abdomen or pelvis.