MASS-SCREENING FOR NEUROBLASTOMA IN MIYAGI PREFECTURE

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 .