title: A 5-year (1990-1994) neuroblastoma screening feasibility study in France. Methodology and preliminary observations.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Following the pioneering Japanese experience, several European and North American groups implemented pilot studies on screening infants for neuroblastoma, considering the possibility of demonstrating a decrease in mortality rate. In France, a 5-year (1990-1994) feasibility study on neuroblastoma screening at the age of 4 months was initiated in the Rhône district (1.5 M inhabitants, 26,000 births per year).
  
  
  METHODS
  Vanillylmandelic (VMA) and homovanillic (HVA) acids were measured by HPLC, and creatinine (Cr) by the Jaffé's kinetic method on Technicon RA-XT. VMA and HVA were expressed as microgram/mg of Cr. The method was assessed with both a daily intra-laboratory control and a sample of urine obtained from a national quality control organism.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The overall participation rate for the 5-year period was 82.2%. Out of 105,293 infants tested from 128,126 births, 12 NB cases were discovered with screening (screened cases) and 1 case was discovered with a late performed test (at 13 months of age). Six neuroblastomas were found clinically before the age of 4 m. Two cases were missed because the parents did not perform the test. Three children with normal tests at screening were false-negative cases: two of them were found secreting at diagnosis, while one remained non-secretory at diagnosis and later on. Otherwise, thirty-five false-positive tests were found. Biochemical observations are discussed. It is too early to reach clinical conclusions from this screening program on neuroblastomas as it is presently being followed up.
authors.affiliation: Service de Biologie Générale et de Neurobiologie, Centre hospitalier du Vinatier, Bron-Lyon, France.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mathieu
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Frappaz
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chauvin
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Combaret
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vercherat
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brunat-Mentigny
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: David
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Esteve
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Favrot
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Fouillat
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Greffe
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lasset
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Renaud
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Philip
mesh_terms: D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D003404:Creatinine / Q000032:analysis / Q000652:urine; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005602:France; D006719:Homovanillic Acid / Q000032:analysis / Q000652:urine; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009447:Neuroblastoma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012016:Reference Values; D014642:Vanilmandelic Acid / Q000032:analysis / Q000652:urine
chemical_list: D014642:Vanilmandelic Acid; D003404:Creatinine; D006719:Homovanillic Acid