Med-Pediatr-Oncol. 2000 Dec; 35(6): 701-4

Population-based and controlled study to evaluate neuroblastoma screening at one year of age in Germany: interim results.

Schilling, F.H.; Berthold, F.; Erttmann, R.; Michaelis, J.; Spix, C.; Sander, J.; Schwarz, K.; Treuner, J.

Abstract:

BACKGROUND: The German Neuroblastoma Screening Project is the first controlled and population-based screening study to evaluate the presumed benefit of neuroblastoma mass screening at 1 year of age (10-18 months). PROCEDURE: Screening takes place in 6 of the 16 German states; children from the remainder serve as controls. The German Childhood Cancer Registry enables a mostly complete follow-up and detection of false-negative patients. RESULTS: Up to December, 1999, 1,199,165 children were examined for urinary catecholamine metabolites and 124 cases of neuroblastoma were detected preclinically, giving a detection rate of 10.3/100,000. Within this cohort, 33 false-negative cases were found. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this screening program will be crucial for further implementation of neuroblastoma screening.

 

Publikationen 2000