title: Malignant neuroblastic tumors in adolescents.
abstract: Malignant neuroblastic tumors (MNT) commonly affect children in the early years of life and become rare afterwards. The clinical characteristics and outcome of these tumors occurring in adolescents are still unclear. In this review, the main clinical reports available in the literature are summarized together with some original data. In general, MNT occurring in adolescents, if compared to those occurring in children, are more frequently diagnosed in advanced stages, have uncommon sites of metastases, but have less frequently unfavorable biological markers. If treated with standard protocols as those used for children, their survival is poor; in particular, patients with localized disease seem to have a more aggressive course than children.
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology/Oncology, Scientific Directorate, Giannina Gaslini Children's Hospital, Genova, Italy.
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Conte
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: De Bernardi
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Milanaccio
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Michelazzi
authors.forename: Antonino
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rizzo
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Montobbio
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Parodi
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Haupt
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D009447:Neuroblastoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy