The treatment and prognosis (chance of cure) for a child with neuroblastoma is assessed by tests done at time of diagnosis. These tests include a biopsy of the tumour, special molecular tests on the tumour tissue, and investigations to determine whether the tumour has spread and if so, where. The results of all these tests are then used to decide the “stage” of the tumour (defined by its extent of spread) and the disease “risk” (the chance of disease recurrence).
This study is being done to establish the best treatment for children with neuroblastoma that has a low or intermediate risk of recurring. Different treatment will be given to children with low risk and intermediate risk disease and will vary depending on the tumour characteristics. This trial will determine which of the current treatments for low and intermediate risk neuroblastoma provides the best outcome.
The incidence of suprarenal tumours/masses has increased in the last decade due to the expanded use of prenatal ultrasonography in routine obstetric care and in the neonatal and early infancy care. The differential diagnosis of these masses ranges from benign (adrenal haemorrhage) to malignant processes (neuroblastoma, adrenal carcinoma). Knowledge on perinatal suprarenal masses, although based on a relatively large literature, is scattered amongst studies on very few cases with no methodical approach and often short follow up. Therefore, the optimal management of these masses has not been clearly defined. Neuroblastoma at this age is an intriguing entity with a very good prognosis in most cases. The SIOPEN Group, based on their results in the first multicenter European Trial for infants with neuroblastoma (INES) and the world-wide experience provided in the literature, is launching this European surveillance study (Multi-centre, non-blinded, one armed prospective trial) for these masses. Treatment: Observation