Screening for neuroblastoma in the north of England.
BMJ
; 305(6864): 1260-3, 1992 Nov 21.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-1303649
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:
To determine the feasibility of establishing a system of screening for neuroblastoma.DESIGN:
Prospective study of mass screening in four clearly defined geographical areas.SETTING:
Four health districts of the Northern region of England.SUBJECTS:
20,829 babies aged 6 months, 92% of target population.INTERVENTIONS:
Collection of urine on filter paper for analysis of content of homovanillic and vanillylmandelic acid in relation to urinary creatinine concentrations. MAIN OUTCOMEMEASURES:
Derivation of reference range. Identification of babies with homovanillic or vanillylmandelic acid > 3 SD above the mean (positive cases). Investigation of positive cases for evidence of neuroblastoma.RESULTS:
The upper limit of normal (3 SD above the mean) for vanillylmandelic acid was 15 mumol/mmol creatinine and for homovanillic acid 24 mumol/mmol creatinine. Of the 20,829 babies screened, 2537 (12.2%) required a second sample to be taken because the first sample was inadequate. Of these, 527 (2.5%) provided a liquid urine specimen and 10 (0.04%) had positive results for neuroblastoma. Two of them had neuroblastoma (true positives) and eight did not (false positives). A further three children from the cohort were subsequently found to have neuroblastoma; they had raised homovanillic acid or vanillylmandelic acid values, or both, but screened negative at 6 months.CONCLUSIONS:
Screening for neuroblastoma is possible in the health care system of the United Kingdom. Evaluation of the efficacy of screening in reducing the mortality from neuroblastoma requires a controlled trial.
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Tamizaje Masivo
/
Neuroblastoma
Tipo de estudio:
Diagnostic_studies
/
Observational_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
/
Screening_studies
Límite:
Female
/
Humans
/
Infant
/
Male
País/Región como asunto:
Europa
Idioma:
En
Revista:
BMJ
Asunto de la revista:
MEDICINA
Año:
1992
Tipo del documento:
Article