Nonmetastatic thoracic neuroblastomas: A review of 40 cases

From 1982 to 1987, 40 children with nonmetastatic thoracic neuroblastoma were treated with the same therapeutic regimen. According to TNM staging, there were 11 CS I,19 CS II, and 10 CS III. All patients underwent surgery; 30 had primary surgical excision; in 10 whose tumors were deemed unresectable, surgery was delayed until after a trial of chemotherapy. Operation was completed by several courses of chemotherapy in case of microscopic residual disease or regional lymph node involvement; radiotherapy was delivered in case of gross residual disease. Using this therapeutic approach, EFS is 92% with a median follow‐up of 40 months. Severe complications were rare and sequellae appear to be related to the disease, i.e., neurologic consequences of cord compression.