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Neuroblastoma; Review Of Twenty-eight Cases And Presentation Of Two Cases With Metastases And Long Survival

King et al., 1961Neuroblastoma

American Journal of Roentgenology 85(4): April 1961; 733-747

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Abstract

The survival of patients with neuroblastoma (Vogel and others, 1970) is closely related to the natural history of the tumour. The age at onset of the disease, the site of origin of the lesion, the presence or absence of osseous metastases, and the spontaneous disappearance or maturation of the tumor are all of prognostic importance. Summaries of the literature are presented with discussions of different treatments. The case presented in this paper is interesting in that spontaneous cure appears to have taken place in the presence of bony metastases with no therapy whatsoever.

Case Details

Personal Characteristics

D.h., a three-day-old white male

Clinical Characteristics

Enlarged liver and spleen, nodular mass in the skin overlying the right scapula, another smaller mass over the right anterior chest, hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, skin nodules involving the entire body

Remission Characteristics

Skin nodules were decreasing in size and number, liver and spleen returned to normal size, infant appeared healthy

Treatment & Mechanisms

Proposed Remission Mechanisms

Not discussed

Clinical Treatment

Biopsy of the left tibial marrow, biopsy of the left scapular skin nodule

Additional Notes

A primary site was never found. The patient was discharged from the hospital with no specific therapy and a grave prognosis. He has had no further difficulty and is living and well at the present time.