Neuroblastoma in the newborn. A study of the Italian Neuroblastoma Registry.
OBJECTIVE
Presenting features, treatment and outcome of 134 newborns with neuroblastoma diagnosed over a 27-year period are described.


METHODS
Analyses were performed on the entire cohort and on patients distributed over three periods of diagnosis.


RESULTS
Twenty-seven tumours (20.1%) were detected prenatally. Localised disease prevailed (65.7%) with an increase of stage 1 patients over time from 18.8% to 46.5%. Disseminated disease accounted for 34.3% of tumours with only one stage 4 and 45 stage 4S. Five-year overall survival (OS) of the entire cohort was 88.3%. Five/88 patients with localised disease died, including three who died of complications (OS, 95.3%). The only stage 4 patient survived. Eleven/45 stage 4S patients died, including 7/18 symptomatic and 4/27 asymptomatic (OS, 74.1%).


CONCLUSIONS
The outcome of neuroblastoma in newborns is excellent. In localised tumours, surgery-related deaths outnumbered deaths due to disease. Symptomatic stage 4S patients were at greater risk of dying.
Gigliotti
Anna Rita
AR
Department of Haematology-Oncology, Giannina Gaslini Children's Hospital, Largo Gerolamo Gaslini, 5, 16147-Genova, Italy.
Di Cataldo
Andrea
A
Sorrentino
Stefania
S
Parodi
Stefano
S
Rizzo
Antonino
A
Buffa
Piero
P
Granata
Claudio
C
Sementa
Angela Rita
AR
Fagnani
Anna Maria
AM
Provenzi
Massimo
M
Prete
Arcangelo
A
D'Ippolito
Carmelita
C
Clerico
Anna
A
Castellano
Aurora
A
Tonini
Gian Paolo
GP
Conte
Massimo
M
Garaventa
Alberto
A
De Bernardi
Bruno
B
D000293:Adolescent; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D016190:Carboplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005047:Etoposide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D005784:Gene Amplification; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009447:Neuroblastoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D011247:Pregnancy; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis; D012042:Registries; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014750:Vincristine / Q000008:administration & dosage
D015415:Biomarkers; D014750:Vincristine; D005047:Etoposide; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D016190:Carboplatin