Neuroblastoma in Patients Over 10 Years Old: A 21-Year Experience at a Single Institution

Purpose:To improve knowledge about the course and clinical characteristics of patients, we reviewed our the clinical characteristics and outcome of consecutive patients aged 10 years or more at the time they were diagnosed with neuroblastoma in a single institution for a period of 21 years. Methods:The records of seven consecutive patients over 10 years old with a newly diagnosed neuroblastoma who were treated at the Instituto de Oncologia Pediatrica-GRAACC/UNIFESP in Sao Paulo from January 1991 to 2012 were reviewed.Results: From 249 patients with Neuroblastoma, 7 were defined as AYA and included in the study.Recurrent disease occurred in 3 of 7 evaluated patients.Time to relapse ranged from 2.5 to 9.3 years (median, 5.6 years) and the time from recurrence to death ranged from 8 to 19.8 months (median, 13.9 months) in 2 of 3 patients with recurrent disease.Progressive disease was present continuously in four patients who died. Conclusion:Neuroblastoma is very rarely diagnosed past the age of 10 years and we have highlighted that the incidence is very low, though, AYA present a more indolent disease course with long-term relapses and fatal outcomes.