Current therapy strategies for neuroblastoma

Neuroblastoma is the most common form of extracranial solid tumor in childhood. Depending on the localization neuroblastomas result in characteristic but site-dependent symptoms. An iodine-123-meta-iodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) scan is the standard diagnostic procedure of choice for all tumor localizations. Bilateral marrow aspirates from the posterior iliac crest and biopsies of bone marrow are also indispensible. The decisive marker for assessment of dignity of neuroblastomas is MYCN oncogene amplification. Neuroblastomas must be treated in a risk-adapted manner. For this reason exact diagnostics and classification are indispensible and the therapy should be carried out in specialized centers within the framework of quality assured therapy optimization studies.