Treatment of neuroblastoma with intraspinal extensions.

Abstract

Neuroblastoma is the most common malignant cause of spinal compression in the paediatric population. Chemotherapy is commonly considered as the first-line treatment for these patients. The role of neurosurgical decompression and radiotherapy are still controversial. Thirteen children diagnosed as having neuroblastoma with intraspinal extension were included in this report. All patients presented with neurological deficits and were treated with chemotherapy initially, after which 3 patients recovered, 4 improved and 6 were aggravated into paraplegia. Two of the 6 aggravated patients received emergent laminectomy with removal of intraspinal tumour and recovered satisfactorily. Although spread of tumour into the spinal canal indicates an advanced disease, aggressive treatments such as chemotherapy and surgical resection can often improve neurological symptoms and life quality. Neurological decompression is recommended for patients with intraspinal neuroblastoma and rapid neurological deterioration during chemotherapy.

• Authors: Jia Jean Yiin, Cheng Siu Chang, Yee Jee Jan, Yeou Chih Wang
• Journal: Journal of clinical neuroscience : official journal of the Neurosurgical Society of Australasia (J Clin Neurosci) Vol. 10 Issue 5 Pg. 579-83 (Sep 2003) ISSN: 1532-2653 [Electronic] Scotland
• PMID: 12948463 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Topics

• Adolescent
• Child
• Child, Preschool
• Combined Modality Therapy
• Female
• Humans
• Infant
• Male
• Mediastinal Neoplasms (pathology)
• Neoplasm Invasiveness
• Neuroblastoma (drug therapy, pathology, radiotherapy, surgery)
• Retroperitoneal Neoplasms (pathology)
• Spinal Neoplasms (drug therapy, pathology, radiotherapy, surgery)
• Treatment Outcome