Neuroblastoma is cancer that starts in certain very early forms of nerve cells, most often found in an embryo or fetus. The term neuro refers to nerves, while blastoma refers to cancer that starts in immature or developing cells). This type of cancer occurs most often in infants and young children. Neuroblastomas are cancers that start in early nerve cells (called neuroblasts) of the sympathetic nervous system, so they can be found anywhere along this system. Not all childhood autonomic nervous system tumors are malignant (cancerous). Some tumors are benign (non-cancerous), and some can have both benign and cancer cells within the same tumor.