title: Analysis of 13 postmortem examinations with regard to the effect of chemotherapy on neuroblastoma patients.
abstract: Thirteen postmortem examinations on neuroblastoma patients were reviewed clinicopathologically. Commonly found metastatic sites were bone, liver and lung. The introduction of massive doses of cyclophosphamide and cisplatinum into chemotherapy protocol markedly reduced the tumor burden: no tumor focus in liver or lung, small tumor burden in bone. Lymph node metastasis remained, however, and was refractory to the chemotherapy. The intensive chemotherapy caused severe side effects: interstitial or bacterial pneumonia and intrathecal bleeding, which sometimes proved fatal. Such side effects must, therefore, be carefully controlled in order to maximize the survival rate.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Sapporo National Hospital, Hokkaido Cancer Center.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Naito
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sasaki
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takeda
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nakadate
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fujita
mesh_terms: D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary; D002423:Cause of Death; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000139:chemically induced; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D009447:Neuroblastoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary; D011658:Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000139:chemically induced; D011878:Radiotherapy