Long-term prognosis of low-risk neuroblastoma treated by surgery alone: an experience from a single institution of China

Low-risk neuroblastomas have favorable biologic characteristics. Children Oncology Group (COG) proposed that surgical resection of the primary tumor was sufficient. We evaluated the long-term prognosis of surgery alone for patients with low-risk neuroblastoma in China.

A total of 34 patients with low-risk neuroblastoma were treated in our center between Jan 2009 and Dec 2013. The medical records of these patients were reviewed.

The primary lesion was located in the adrenal gland in 19 patients, the retroperitoneum in 5, the posterior mediastinum in 9 and the neck in 1. The tumor diameters and volumes were 1.80–10.0 cm (average 5.5 ± 2.3 cm) and 1.28–424.10 cm³ (average 58.81 ± 92.00 cm³), respectively. The stages of the patients were as follows: stage I in 25, stage II in 7, and stage IVs in 2. All patients were in the low-risk group according to COG risk stratification criteria. No patients showed MYCN amplification. The primary tumors of all patients were completely resected. Nine adrenal tumors were completely resected by laparoscopy. All patients were successfully followed for 66–115 (average 89.71 ± 16.17) months. Recurrence was observed in 4 patients. In addition to one local recurrence, another three recurrences were metastases. The lesions were effectively controlled in all patients with recurrences. All patients survived, including 28 cases of tumor-free survival; the 4-year overall and event-free survival rates were both 100%.

Surgery alone is a safe and effective treatment strategy for low-risk neuroblastoma. Recurrent lesions may be controlled and treated by rescue chemotherapy and surgery.