TITLE:
Neuroblastoma in Saudi Children: A Single Center Experience (2006-2014)
AUTHORS:
Zaid Al Naqib, Atif A. Ahmed, Musa Al Harbi, Fahad Al Manjomi, Zaheer Ullah Khan, Awatif Alanazi, Othman Mosleh, Walid Ballourah, Mohammed Rayis
KEYWORDS:
Children, Neuroblastoma, Saudi Arabia, Survival
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Cancer Therapy,
Vol.6 No.10,
September
22,
2015
ABSTRACT: Introduction: Neuroblastoma is the most common extracranial solid tumor in
childhood and survival rate has improved during the last few decades. Only a few
studies, related to Neuroblastoma in Saudi Arabian children, have been performed.
We report epidemiologic data and our clinical experience from the department of
Pediatric Hematology Oncology (PHO), King Fahad Medical City (KFMC), Riyadh, Saudi
Arabia. Method: A retrospective observational study of all patients, with diagnosis
of Neuroblastoma, who attended PHO-KFMC from July 2006 to June 2014 was performed.
The survival periods (overall survival and disease-free survival) and the final
outcomes for patients treated and followed at KFMC were recorded. The survival data
were statistically correlated with the clinical, pathological and biological features
of patients and tumors and compared to national and international cohorts. Results:
Eight-year data were available for the 42 patients of which 22 (52.4%) were male
and 20 (47.6%) were females. Age at diagnosis ranged 0 - 91 months with a mean and
median of 26.3 and 18.5 months respectively. 16 (38.1%) patients were under one
year and 26 (61.9%) above 1 year of age. The event-free survival (EFS) and overall
survival (OS) rates were 66.5% and 71.5% respectively. EFS and OS among those who
were detecting clinical and biologic characteristics of
aggressive disease and tailoring therapy, is needed.