Neuroblastoma

Abstract
NEUROBLASTOMA is the most commonly encountered soft tissue malignancy in childhood. At the Columbus Children's Hospital, 92 cases have been recorded during the past 21 years. We have studied these variously managed patients retrospectively and, in doing so, we have attempted to answer several questions regarding the treatment of this disease. What length of tumor free survival is necessary before a patient may be considered cured? Has chemotherapy, particularly with cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan), prolonged survival or increased the cure rate? Do repeated operations improve curability for persistent or recurrent tumor? What is the contribution of irradiation treatment to curability rate? Finally, what should be the projected method of management of children with neuroblastoma over the next few years? There have been four eras in the management of neuroblastoma. The first or "do nothing" era in the early 1920's took advantage of the fact that this particular malignant tumor may spontaneously regress