Neuroblastoma: Changing incidence and survival in young people aged 0-24 years. A report from the North of England Young Persons' Malignant Disease Registry

Background and Procedure. Population based data for neuroblastoma in childr en and young adults under 25 years at diagnosis were ascertained from the N orthern Region Young Persons' Malignant Disease Registry for the period 196 8-1995. Age-standardised incidence rates were calculated (ASR) and changes in incidence and survival were investigated. Over the study period 144 pati ents were registered, of these 136 were children under 15 years at diagnosi s (median age: 2.2 years, ASR: 8.6 cases per million children per year), an d 8 were 15-24 years (ASR 0.6). Results and Conclusions. Incidence of child hood neuroblastoma in the North of England increased significantly over tim e; ASRs were 5.8 for 1968-1981 and 9.5 for 1982-1995 (rate ratio: 1.6, 95%; CI 1.2-2.3). The increase in incidence was seen in both infants and older children, and in both low stage and advanced disease. Overall 5 year surviv al was 15% for 1968-1981 and 40% for 1982-1995 (P< 0.0001). Significant imp rovements in survival were documented across different stage and age-groups , including those over 1 with stage 4 disease (0% versus 18%, P < 0.0001). Further research is needed to investigate the reasons for the increasing in cidence of neuroblastoma. Med. Pediatr. Oncol. 36:231-234, 2001. (C) 2001 W iley-Liss, Inc.