[Diagnosis and treatment of neuroblastoma in children--analysis of 98 patients].

From 1959 to 1982, 98 patients with neuroblastoma were treated in our hospital. Seventy-eight were diagnosed by pathology and 69 (88.5%) were followed for 1 approximately 18 years. 50(51%) had already had distant metastasis (22, to bone) on admission. Operation was performed on 53 patients (total excision on 18, partial excision on 11 and biopsy on 24 patients). The 1 and 15 year survival rates were 31.4% and 12.9%. The survival curve levelled off from the second year of the operation and remained unchanged around 20% up to the tenth year. Lesions in early stage (without metastasis) as treated by total excision gave better results. For patients with advanced lesions, no remarkable effect was found in the supplementary use of chemotherapy. We suggest that the intravenous pyelogram, bone marrow aspiration and vanillylmandelic acid (VMA) assay be made before operation. Urine VMA assay is a criterion not only for early diagnosis but also for follow-up and detecting recurrence before clinical manifestations become apparent. Long-term follow up is crucial for neuroblastoma patients.