Essential Site Maintenance: Authorea-powered sites will be updated circa 15:00-17:00 Eastern on Tuesday 5 November.
There should be no interruption to normal services, but please contact us at [email protected] in case you face any issues.

loading page

Spontaneous regression of a > 5cm infant neuroblastoma after a three-fold volume increase without life or organ threatening features
  • +2
  • Andrew C. Hinchliffe,
  • leigh mcdonald,
  • Corina Moldovan,
  • Angharad Goodman,
  • Deborah Tweddle
Andrew C. Hinchliffe
Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Author Profile
leigh mcdonald
Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Author Profile
Corina Moldovan
Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals Department of Cellular Pathology
Author Profile
Angharad Goodman
Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Author Profile
Deborah Tweddle
Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

Author Profile

Abstract

Spontaneous tumour regression is a well-recognised phenomenon in infantile favourable-biology neuroblastoma. An ‘expectant-observation’ strategy avoids chemotherapy or surgery associated risks but has mostly been limited to small tumours (diameter < 5 cm) and discontinued if significant tumour growth or increasing catecholamine levels. Here we report the successful use of an observation-only strategy in an infant with unresectable neuroblastoma > 5 cm at diagnosis which initially tripled in size with a 10-fold increase in urinary catecholamines. We highlight the need for consensus evidence-based criteria to define the subgroup where a ‘wait-and-see’ approach is appropriate and criteria to begin active treatment.