Prognosis, Survival and Management of Pediatric Patients With Neuroblastoma: A 12-Year Experience From a Single Center Study

Azim Mehrvar; Yasaman Sadeghi; Narjes Mehrvar; Mohammad Faranoush; Mardawij Alebouyeh; Mohsen Roozrokh; Maryam Tashvighi

doi:10.18502/acta.v61i5.13482

Azim Mehrvar MAHAK Hematology Oncology Research Center (MAHAK-HORC), Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Yasaman Sadeghi MAHAK Hematology Oncology Research Center (MAHAK-HORC), Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Narjes Mehrvar MAHAK Hematology Oncology Research Center (MAHAK-HORC), Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Mohammad Faranoush MAHAK Hematology Oncology Research Center (MAHAK-HORC), Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Mardawij Alebouyeh MAHAK Hematology Oncology Research Center (MAHAK-HORC), Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Mohsen Roozrokh MAHAK Hematology Oncology Research Center (MAHAK-HORC), Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Maryam Tashvighi MAHAK Hematology Oncology Research Center (MAHAK-HORC), Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/acta.v61i5.13482

Keywords: Neuroblastoma; Pediatric oncology; Survival rates; Delayed diagnosis and treatment

Abstract

In this cross-sectional study, we aimed to evaluate epidemiologic data, survival, and prognosis of pediatric patients diagnosed with neuroblastoma who were referred to Mahak Pediatric Cancer Treatment and Research Center (MPCTRC). One-hundred thirty-seven children younger than 15 years with neuroblastoma from April 2008 to March 2020 were included in this study. Data were retrospectively extracted from their documents, and follow-up was done for alive individuals. Collected data were analyzed using SPSS software version 25 for parametric and non-parametric variables. Of all patients, 51.82% (n=71) were male (M/F ratio was 1.07:1) with a mean age of 2.48±0.26 years. According to the International Neuroblastoma Staging System (INSS), more than 70% of patients were diagnosed with stages 3, 4, and 4S. Primary tumors were located mostly in the adrenal glands (42.34%) and abdomen (29.20%), respectively. Additionally, 62% of children experienced metastasis, with the most common site being bone marrow. Moreover, patients' overall survival, progression-free survival, and event-free survival were 55.2%±5.6, 41.0%±7.9, and 30.0%±5.1, respectively. Early diagnosis and effective treatment of neuroblastoma can directly influence patients' survival, and those who are diagnosed with neuroblastoma within one month of its symptoms onset are more likely to have higher survival rates.