Final answer:
The most common adrenal medullary tumor in children is neuroblastoma, a cancer that originates from the autonomic nervous system and can lead to significant hypertensive issues due to excessive production of catacholamines. Other common childhood cancers include acute lymphoblastic leukemia and brain tumors.
Step-by-step explanation:
The most common adrenal medullary tumor in children is neuroblastoma. This type of cancer arises from the autonomic nervous system and specifically affects neuroblasts, which are the cells in the adrenal medulla. Pathophysiology of these tumors involves excessive production of catacholamines leading to hypertension and is frequently seen with pheochromocytomas, another tumor of the adrenal medulla. Tumors in the adrenal medulla, such as neuroblastoma, are composed of pheochromocytes or chromaffin cells, and the excessive catacholamines they produce can cause significant health issues like hypertension.
Treatment and monitoring of cancer survivors after therapy are crucial, as certain markers like elevated AFP in a child previously treated for teratoma can suggest relapse with an endodermal sinus tumor. Neuroblastoma most often presents as a firm mass in the abdomen of the child. It is important to note that while childhood cancer is rare, when it does occur, other common types besides neuroblastoma include acute lymphoblastic leukemia, brain tumors, and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.