title: Neuroblastoma incidence and survival in European children (1978-1997): report from the Automated Childhood Cancer Information System project.
abstract: The Automated Childhood Cancer Information System (ACCIS) collects and presents data on childhood cancer in Europe. This report describes trends (1978-1997) and geographical differences (1988-1997) in incidence and survival for 6202 children with neuroblastoma from 59 registries in 19 countries, grouped into five regions (British Isles, West, East, North, and South). The age-standardised incidence rate (ASR) of neuroblastoma in Europe in 1988-1997 was 10.9 cases per million children, being highest in infants (52.6). The ASR of neuroblastoma increased in Europe from 8.4 in 1978-1982 to 11.6 in 1993-1997, mostly due to an increase in infants (from 35.4 to 57.8). Overall 5-year survival was 59%, ranging from 47% (East) to 67% (West). It improved markedly from 37% in 1978-1982 to 66% in 1993-1997, especially in infants. A certain amount of overdiagnosis in children under 2 years of age may explain the increased incidence rates and partially the increase in survival. Survival of older children (aged 2-14 years), which is likely to be largely affected by therapy, has also improved from 21% to 45%.
authors.affiliation: German Childhood Cancer Registry, University Mainz, 55101 Mainz, Germany. spix@imbei.uni-mainz.de
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Spix
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pastore
authors.forename: Risto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sankila
authors.forename: Charles A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Stiller
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Steliarova-Foucher
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016208:Databases, Factual / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D009447:Neuroblastoma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D012042:Registries / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016019:Survival Analysis