neuroblastoma is a kind of cancer that usually occurs in children and infants. this kind of cancer mostly affects the autonomic nervous system. the cancer creates tumors, but the cells or pieces of the tumors do not fully finish growing. there are about 650 cases per year in the united states. about half of these cases occur in children younger than two years old. the tumors can grow from any neural crest element of the sympathetic nervous system. most of the time, it comes from one of the adrenal glands. it can also start growing in nerve tissues in the neck, chest, abdomen, or pelvis.