Neuroblastoma in Iraq: the experience of a major teaching hospital in Baghdad

ABSTRACT

A total of 59 consecutive patients diagnosed as Neuroblastoma in the period between April 1985 and December 1991 at Saddam's Medical City, were studied. The patients had a median age of 3 years, and a male to female ratio of 1.51. The main features at presentation included abdominai masses in 91.5%, pallor 66.1%, bone pain 322.2%, proptosis 28.8%, and lytic bone lesion [on skeletal survey] in 47.5%. The majority of the patients were at an advanced Evan's clinical stage at diagnosis [stage IV [59.3%] and stage III [27.1%]. The overall two year disease free survival was 20.3%. Significant association was found between two year disease free survival and younger age, less advanced clinical stage, free from lytic bone lesions, higher haemoglobin values, total leukocytes, platelets and absolute lymphocytes count. The poor survival figures for advanced Neuroblastoma observed in this series warrants reconsideration of treatment strategies employed, and considering the validity of investigations and other methods for early diagnosis of malignant disease and to improve survival