title: Outcome and morbidity of surgical resection of primary cervical and cervicothoracic neuroblastoma in children: a comparative analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Primary cervical (CN) and cervicothoracic neuroblastoma (CTN) is generally associated with good outcome; however, surgical resection can be challenging and not without morbidity. The aim of this study is to assess the overall outcome and compare the clinico-radiological features, treatment, and complications of CN and CTN.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixteen consecutive patients, (CN = 9, CTN = 7) treated between November 2006 and December 2012 were selected from the prospective database for this analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 2-year overall and event-free survival of entire cohort is 100 and 72 %, respectively. Respiratory symptoms due to compression of airway and intraspinal extension were common in CTN. Gross total resection was feasible in all patients with CN; in contrast, incomplete excision along with significantly longer duration of surgery and more blood loss occurred in CTN. Postoperative morbidity was seen in three patients with CN and only one patient with CTN. The extent of surgery did not affect the overall and event-free survival of CTN (p = NS).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CN and CTN have characteristic clinico-radiological presentation and surgical specification. However, both have a favorable outcome, even though with a distinct but acceptable morbidity. The favorable outcome in CTN is unrelated to the extent of surgical excision.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgical Oncology, Tata Memorial Centre, Ernest Borges Road, Parel, 400012, Bombay, India, sajidshafiques@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Sajid S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Qureshi
authors.forename: Seema
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kembhavi
authors.forename: Mukta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ramadwar
authors.forename: Girish
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Chinnaswamy
authors.forename: Siddharth
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Laskar
authors.forename: Sanjay
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Talole
authors.forename: Saral
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Desai
authors.forename: Nehal
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Khanna
authors.forename: Tushar
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Vora
authors.forename: Purna
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kurkure
mesh_terms: D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003287:Contrast Media; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D009447:Neuroblastoma / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media