In Japan, aiming at early and preclinical detection of neuroblastoma i
n infancy a mass screening program for the tumor has been implemented
nationwide using urinary tests for catecholamine metabolites, vanillyl
mandelic acid (VMA) and homovanillic acid (HVA) (Sawada 1990; Sawada e
t al. 1991). In this report, the results obtained from the screening p
rogram in Miyagi Prefecture for the last 6 years are described. The de
tection rate of neuroblastoma by mass screening was 1 : 8,377 among 12
5,652 infants tested in Miyagi Prefecture. All but one patients surviv
ed after removal of the primary tumor and none or minimal chemotherapy
.