Prognostic Value of Immunocytologic Detection of Bone Marrow Metastases in Neuroblastoma

NEUROBLASTOMA is the most common extra-cranial solid tumor in childhood. 1 In general, localized (Stage I or II), regional (Stage III), and metastatic (Stage IV) disease are associated with a high, intermediate, and low probability of survival, respectively. 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 However, widespread neuroblastomas can spontaneously regress (Stage IVS) or respond well to therapy (Stage IV disease in infants), and localized tumors can grow progressively (Stage II). 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 To aid in assessing prognosis in the various clinical groups, a number of markers, including the serum levels of neuron-specific enolase 9 and ferritin, 10 the histopathological features 11 and DNA content of tumors, 12 and the tumor N- myc gene . . .