Sandbox:managemenet

Overview

Children oncology group (COG) risk stratification system determines the protocol of management used for neuroblastoma patients. Low risk neuroblastoma patients are usually managed with either observation or surgical resection of the tumor. Intermidiate risk neuroblastoma patients are usually managed with neoadjuvant chemotherapy in advance of a definitive surgical resection. Whereas high risk neuroblastoma patients are usually managed with a combination of surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, and immunotherapy.

Medical Therapy

Risk Stratification

• Children oncology group (COG) risk stratification system determines the protocol of management used for neuroblastoma patients.
• Low risk neuroblastoma patients are usually managed by either observation or surgical resection of the tumor.
• Intermediate risk neuroblastoma patients are usually managed by neoadjuvant chemotherapy in advance of a definitive surgical resection.
• High risk neuroblastoma patients are usually managed by a combination of surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, and immunotherapy.
• The algorithm below summarizes the management approach for neuroblastoma patients:

Children's oncology group risk stratification

Low risk patients

Intermediate risk patients

High risk patients

Surgery followed by chemotherapy Chemotherapy with or without surgery Observation without biopsy

Chemotherapy with or without surgery Surgery and observation Radiation therapy

A combination of chemotherapy, surgery, stem cell transplantation, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, and isotretinoin

Management of Low Risk Neuroblastoma Patients

Observation

• Low risk neuroblastoma patients younger than 6 months of age may be safely observed without obtaining a definitive histologic diagnosis or performing any surgical intervention.
• Observation helps avoid potential complications of surgery newborn, as the majority of neuroblastomas among such patients demonstrate spontaneous regression.

Chemotherapy

• Indications for chemotherapy among low risk neuroblastoma patients include:

• Stage 1 or stage 2 tumors associated with MYCN amplification
• Age older than 18 months presenting with a stage 2B tumor and an unfavorable histology
• Symptomatic patients due to spinal cord compression, respiratory compromise, and hepatic infiltration

Radiotherapy

• Radiotherapy is not recommended among low risk neuroblastoma patients.

• Surgical intervention alone may be curative as a single therapeutic modality for the management of low risk neuroblastoma patients.