Birth‐related characteristics, congenital malformation, maternal reproductive history and neuroblastoma: The ESCALE study (SFCE)

Since neuroblastoma occurs very early in children's lives, it has been hypothesized that pre‐ and perinatal factors may play a role in its etiology. This study investigated the role of birth characteristics, congenital malformation and maternal reproductive history in neuroblastoma. The data used were generated by the national population‐based case–control study, ESCALE, conducted in France in 2003–2004. The mothers of 191 neuroblastoma cases and 1,681 controls, frequency‐matched by age and gender, were interviewed by telephone, using a standardized questionnaire, on several factors including pregnancy, medical history, lifestyle, childhood medical conditions and exposures. A positive association between congenital malformation and all neuroblastoma cases was observed [Odds ratio (OR) = 2.2, 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 1.1–4.5]. Congenital malformations were highly associated to neuroblastoma in children aged less than 1 year (OR = 16.8, 95% CI: 3.1–90), while no association was observed in children aged 1 year or more (OR = 1.0, 95% CI: 0.3–2.9). A negative association with a maternal history of spontaneous abortions was also found (OR = 0.6, 95% CI: 0.4–0.9). The results strongly support the hypothesis that congenital anomalies may be associated with neuroblastoma, particularly in infant (less than 1 year of age). © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.