Neuroblastoma: a twenty year review.

A retrospective study was made of children with neuroblastoma presenting to Princess Mary Hospital over the past twenty years and to Green Lane Hospital over the past fifteen years. There was an increase in the numbers of children presenting over the years. The majority of patients were under five years of age and half of them were under two years. The majority of cases had an abdominal tumour, and abdominal mass was the commonest mode of presentation. In general, those children under one year of age and early stage and/or a primary tumour outside the abdomen, had a far better prognosis. A particularly good prognosis was noted in those children under one year of age with metastases confined to the liver skin and bone marrow (stage IVS).