Neuroblastoma is the most common extracranial solid cancer in infancy and childhood. It arises from any neural crest element of the sympathetic nervous system.
Other tumors also have similar origins and show a wide pattern of differentiation ranging from benign ganglioneuroma to partially differentiated ganglioneuroblastoma to highly malignant neuroblastoma.
Neuroblastoma is one of the rare human malignancies known to demonstrate spontaneous
regression from an undifferentiated state to a completely benign cellular appearance
When the lesion is localized, it is generally curable. However, long-term survival for children with advanced disease is poor despite aggressive multimodality therapy .
Recent biologic and genetic characteristics have been identified, which, when added to classic clinical staging, has allowed accurate patient assignment to risk groups so that treatment strategies can be more effectively undertaken.
References
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov Current aspects of biology, risk assessment, and treatment of neuroblastoma. Haase GM, Perez C, Atkinson JB. Semin Surg Oncol. 1999 Mar;16(2):91-104.
