Residual lymph node metastasis in stage 4 neuroblastoma--advantage of radio-guided surgery?

Pediatr Hematol Oncol. 2010 Sep;27(6):471-5. doi: 10.3109/08880018.2010.489931.

Abstract

Log-term prognosis of children suffering from high-risk neuroblastomas is characterized by a shortened event-free survival, especially if metastases remain after chemotherapy. We report the case of a 3-year-old boy afflicted with a stage 4 neuroblastoma and persistent residual lymph node metastases despite the administration of a various number of treatment modalities. The insertion of a MIBG (metaiodobenzylguanidine) single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)-CT and radio-guided surgery implementing a hand held gamma probe finally allowed the exact localization and resection of the suspected lymphatic tissue. As a consequence, the child has been under event-free remission for 20 months. Because study-based knowledge is missing due to the small number of affected patients, individual case reports are helpful to improve future treatment strategies.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • 3-Iodobenzylguanidine
  • Child, Preschool
  • Disease-Free Survival
  • Humans
  • Lymphatic Metastasis*
  • Male
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Neuroblastoma / pathology
  • Neuroblastoma / surgery*
  • Surgery, Computer-Assisted / methods*
  • Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon / methods

Substances

  • 3-Iodobenzylguanidine