title: Investigating neuroblastoma in childhood opsoclonus-myoclonus syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Opsoclonus-myoclonus syndrome (OMS) is a serious, often disabling neurological illness of early childhood which is frequently associated with occult neuroblastoma. As investigation methods vary significantly, the authors assessed the usefulness of imaging and metabolic studies in tumour detection.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective case note review of 101 OMS patients from two paediatric neurology centres over 53 years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of neuroblastoma in OMS was 8% in the 1970s, 16% in the 1980s, 38% in the 1990s and 43% in the 2000s, with tumours being mainly low grade. CT/MR imaging of the chest and abdomen was the most accurate test to detect occult neuroblastoma. Poorer sensitivities were noted for metaiodobenzylguanidine scintigraphy and urine catecholamines, reflecting the low metabolic activity of these tumours.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CT/MR imaging has the highest detection rate of neuroblastoma and this should be reflected in investigation protocols to achieve the best possible outcome for children with OMS.
authors: Fraser of Allander Neurosciences Unit, Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Glasgow, UK. andreas.brunklaus@nhs.net
authors: Andreas
authors: A
authors: Brunklaus
authors: Keith
authors: K
authors: Pohl
authors: Sameer M
authors: SM
authors: Zuberi
authors: Carlos
authors: C
authors: de Sousa
mesh_terms: D000008:Abdominal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000652:urine; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000652:urine; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D008131:London / Q000453:epidemiology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009447:Neuroblastoma / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D053578:Opsoclonus-Myoclonus Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012606:Scotland / Q000453:epidemiology; D013899:Thoracic Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D002395:Catecholamines