DIE LETALITAT BEI KINDERN MIT NEUROBLASTOM - EIN VERGLEICH VON ZWEI 10-JAHRESSTUDIEN AUS DER PADIATRISCHEN ONKOLOGIE DER UNIVERSITAT TUBINGEN

32 cases of sympathetic nervous system tumours have been treated in a single pediatric oncologic center during 1970-79 and have been submitted to a follow-up analysis according to the known prognostic parameters. A high significance of prognostic staging is seen in correlation to age, stage, site of the primary, histologic differentiation, postoperative excretion of metabolic catecholamines and surgical radicality. The overall lethality in this material has been 38%, in contrast to a lethality rate of 72% in the same center during the preceding period (1960-69). The reason for this notable drop is thought to be early diagnosis leading to a combination of favourable prognostic parameters. Total surgical removal of the primary is considered the most important therapeutic factor, being exclusively sufficient in cases where the prognosis is favourable (first year of life, stage I and II). A long term lethality rate subsequent to cytotoxic treatment has been observed, so that the 2-years-survival time has to be discussed.