title: [Neuroblastoma in children: clinical and biological aspects. An experience of screening in France].
abstract: Neuroblastoma is the commonest solid tumour in children under the age of 5 years (50% of cases before 2 years, 90% before 5) and the second cause of death after accidents. Approximately one child in 10,000 develops neuroblastoma by the age of 15 years. The situation in other European and North American countries is similar to that in France. As neuroblastoma is derived from the sympathetic nervous tissues, it is associated with the production of large amounts of catecholamines and their metabolites which are excreted in the urine. Less than 5% of cases do not produce catecholamines. Vanillylmandelic acid (VMA), homovanillic acid (HVA) and dopamine (DA) are the most useful chemical markers for the diagnosis and clinical control of neuroblastoma. They are generally measured using the reliable and sensitive high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). Survival is related to stage (the Evan's staging protocol has been superseded by the INNS staging), and age at diagnosis. There is almost 100% survival for stages I and IIa before the age of 12 months, and less than 20% for stage IV when diagnosed after 2 years of age. Multiple copies of the N-myc oncogene, deletions of chromosome 1p, and diploidy in tumour cells are associated with poor prognosis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Service de biologie générale et de neurobiollgie, CHS du Vinatier, Bron-Lyon, France.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mathieu
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Favrot
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Frappaz
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chauvin
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Greffe
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Montegue
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lacroix
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: David
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brunat-Mentigny
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Philip
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000032:analysis; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D016259:Genes, myc / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008403:Mass Screening; D009423:Nervous System Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009447:Neuroblastoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System
chemical_list: D002395:Catecholamines
vernacular_title: Le neuroblastome de l'enfant: aspects cliniques et biologiques. Une expérience de dépistage en France.