Neuroblastoma: the association of anatomical tumour site, molecular biology and patient outcomes

Retroperitoneal adrenal neuroblastoma with bone marrow metastatic activity in a young adult

A 31-year-old male came to emergency department with acute abdominal pain from the right flank, diaphoresis and, palpitations. Contrasted abdominal CT revealed a tumor dependent from right adrenal gland and kidney. A laparoscopic radical nephrectomy was made to resect the tumor and pain relief. Pathological analysis reported poorly differentiated neuroblastoma from the right adrenal gland without involvement to kidney and ureter. The patient was sent to oncology clinic to continue with chemotherapy treatment. This is the third case of adult neuroblastoma reported in South America. Adult neuroblastoma is an uncommon cause of malignant neoplasm with an exceptional incidence reported.

Correlations between contrast-enhanced CT-measured extracellular volume fraction, histopathological features, and MYCN amplification status in abdominal neuroblastoma: a retrospective study

PURPOSE

To retrospectively investigate the correlations between contrast-enhanced CT (CECT)-measured extracellular volume fraction (fECV) and histopathological features, as well as MYCN amplification status, in abdominal neuroblastoma.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

One hundred and forty-one patients with abdominal neuroblastoma who underwent CECT scanning were retrospectively enrolled. Calculation of fECV involved the measurement of CT values within regions of interest located within the neuroblastoma and aorta on both non-contrast-enhanced CT and equilibrium CECT. The correlations between fECV and various factors, including pathological subtype, mitosis karyorrhexis index (MKI), Shimada classification, MYCN amplification status, International Neuroblastoma Risk Group (INRG) stage, and risk group were analyzed using either the Mann-Whitney U test or Kruskal-Wallis test.

RESULTS

Neuroblastoma and ganglioneuroblastoma exhibited fECV values of 0.349 (0.252, 0.424) and 0.438 (0.327, 0.508), respectively, indicating a statistically significant difference (Z = 2.200, P = 0.028). Additionally, the fECV decreased significantly in neuroblastoma with high MKI (H = 8.314, P = 0.016) or unfavorable histology (Z = 3.880, P < 0.001), as well as in those with MYCN amplification (Z = 5.486, P < 0.001). Notably, a significant variation in fECV was observed among different INRG stages (H = 16.881, P <0.001) and risk groups (H = 29.014, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

CECT-derived fECV is associated with histopathological features, MYCN amplification status, INRG stage, and risk stratification of abdominal neuroblastoma, reflecting a potential correlation between the extracellular matrix and the biological behavior of neuroblastoma.

Beyond image defined risk factors (IDRFs): a delphi survey highlighting definition of the surgical complexity index (SCI) in neuroblastoma

PURPOSE

Preoperative evaluation of Image Defined Risk Factors (IDRFs) in neuroblastoma (NB) is crucial for determining suitability for upfront resection or tumor biopsy. IDRFs do not all carry the same weighting in predicting tumor complexity and surgical risk. In this study we aimed to assess and categorize a surgical complexity (Surgical Complexity Index, SCI) in NB resection.

METHODS

A panel of 15 surgeons was involved in an electronic Delphi consensus survey to identify and score a set of shared items predictive and/or indicative of surgical complexity, including the number of preoperative IDRFs. A shared agreement included the achievement of at least 75% consensus focused on a single or two close risk categories.

RESULTS

After 3 Delphi rounds, agreement was established on 25/27 items (92.6%). A severity score was established for each item ranging from 0 to 3 with an overall SCI range varying from a minimum score of zero to a maximum score of 29 points for any given patient.

CONCLUSIONS

A consensus on a SCI to stratify the risks related to neuroblastoma tumor resection was established by the panel experts. This index will now be deployed to critically assign a better severity score to IDRFs involved in NB surgery.

Clinical and surgical outcome differences on the basis of pathology category in cervical neuroblastic tumors

BACKGROUND

Cervical neuroblastic tumors (NTs) are rare but less aggressive cancer with an above-average survival rate. Little has been published regarding the management and surgical outcomes of patients with cervical NTs based on pathology category. This study compared and identified the preoperative characteristics of cervical NTs in different pathology categories and evaluated the outcomes of patients undergoing surgical resection.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Upon the institutional review board's approval, a retrospective chart review was performed at Beijing Children's Hospital from April 2013 to August 2020. Demographics of patients, imaging data, lab test results, operation details and outcomes were recorded and analyzed.

RESULTS

Of 32 cervical NTs, 24(80%) were classified as neuroblastoma (NB) /ganglioneuroblastoma-nodular (GNBn) and 8(20%) as ganglioneuroblastoma-intermixed (GNBi)/ ganglioneuroma (GN). Patients with GNBi/GN were older than those with NB/GNBn (44.5 months (IQR 16-81) vs 9 months (IQR 1-47); P = 0.001). GNBi/GN patients presented more frequently with stage 1 disease compared with NB/GNBn patients (100% vs. 29.2%, P = 0.001), less frequently with tumor-related symptoms (0% vs. 70.8%, P = 0.001), artery encased tumor (0% vs. 41.7%, P = 0.035), and surgical complications (25% vs. 70.8%, P = 0.038). GNBi/GN patients were also less likely to show elevated neuron specific enolase (NSE) (12.5% vs. 79.2%, P = 0.002).

CONCLUSIONS

Cervical NB/GNBn and GNBi/GN patients had distinct characteristic clinical presentations and surgical outcomes. For children with features suggestive of benign disease (older age, asymptomatic, normal serum tumor markers) and no artery image-defined risk factors (IDRFs), upfront resection can be considered.

Changes in image-defined risk factors with neoadjuvant chemotherapy in pediatric abdominal neuroblastoma

PURPOSE

To observe the changes in image-defined risk factors (IDRFs) with neoadjuvant chemotherapy in pediatric abdominal neuroblastoma and to investigate the correlations between IDRF changes and histopathological features. In addition, this study also investigated the correlations between residual IDRFs after neoadjuvant chemotherapy and intraoperative complications.

METHODS

Forty-three patients with abdominal neuroblastoma who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy in our hospital from January 2015 to September 2021 were enrolled. Intraoperative records, histopathological features, and CT images at initial diagnosis and after neoadjuvant chemotherapy of all patients were retrospectively collected and analyzed.

RESULTS

A total of 245 IDRFs were found at initial diagnosis, with a median of 6 [5, 7] IDRFs per patient. After neoadjuvant chemotherapy, IDRFs significantly decreased to 156 (p < 0.001), with a median of 4 [3, 5] IDRFs remaining per patient. The majority of IDRFs (6/8, 75.00%) were significantly improved after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (p < 0.05), while tumor invasion of renal pedicles (p > 0.05) and adjacent structures (p > 0.05) was the least responsive IDRF. IDRFs in different types of neuroblastoma decreased significantly after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (p < 0.05), while they were not significant in neuroblastoma with low and intermediate mitosis-karyorrhexis indices (p > 0.05). The number of residual IDRFs correlated positively with the volumes of intraoperative blood loss (r = 0.399, p = 0.008), but not with the presence of intraoperative complications (r = 0.111, p = 0.478).

CONCLUSIONS

IDRFs in different types of neuroblastoma can be significantly improved after neoadjuvant chemotherapy, while IDRFs in neuroblastoma with low and intermediate mitosis-karyorrhexis indices might not be easily improved. At the same time, the number of residual IDRFs after neoadjuvant chemotherapy might not correlate with the occurrence of intraoperative complications in abdominal neuroblastoma.

Adult adrenal neuroblastoma: A case report

Adrenal neuroblastoma (NB) is very rare in adults. According to the literature, <100 cases have been reported worldwide to date, with >90% of the patients aged <10 years. As the early symptoms of the disease are not obvious, distant metastasis has often already occurred when the patients develop clinical symptoms. This lack of obvious symptoms may lead to misdiagnosis and inadequate treatment. Imaging and laboratory examinations are crucial for the diagnosis of NB, but reaching a definitive diagnosis prior to surgery is challenging, as the final diagnosis ultimately depends on histopathological examination. The aim of the present study was to report the rare case of a 40-year-old woman with adrenal left NB who underwent tumor resection. No tumor recurrence was observed at the 3-month and 1-year postoperative follow-up, but a repeat computed tomography at the 3-year postoperative follow-up indicated metastases; the patient refused further treatment and eventually succumbed to the disease within 1 month. The aim of the present case was to emphasize the importance of individualized therapy and long-term, close follow-up of the patients. The clinical characteristics and treatment of this case of adrenal NB were also summarized and analyzed in order to raise clinical awareness of this rare disease.