Can the growth of a neuroblastoma be influenced by a child's nutritional state? Observations in a patient treated for kwashiorkor and later given a restricted diet.

A 17-month-old Thai female with neuroblastoma presented with an abdominal mass and the classical findings of kwashiorkor. Concomitant with effective repair of the child's protein deficit, the mass enlarged dramatically and metastases were noted. This is the first known report of such an occurrence.