Study shows positive effect of concentrating surgery for children with neuroblastoma

Neuroblastoma is a tumor of the sympathetic nervous system that happens primarily in younger kids. Yearly, 25 kids within the Netherlands obtain this prognosis. Surgical procedure to take away the tumor tissue types an necessary a part of the therapy plan. Since November 2014, care for youngsters within the Netherlands with a stable tumor, together with neuroblastoma, has been concentrated in a single nationwide analysis hospital, the Princess Máxima Middle for pediatric oncology in Utrecht.

To analyze the impact of concentrating surgical procedure for youngsters with neuroblastoma, researchers from the Princess Máxima Middle appeared on the medical information of 244 kids who had undergone surgical procedure within the 5 former pediatric oncology facilities within the Netherlands between 1998 and 2014. They in contrast this knowledge with that of the 111 kids whose surgical procedure was carried out within the Princess Máxima Middle between 2014 and 2021. The analysis was revealed within the European Journal of Surgical Oncology, and was partly funded by KiKa.

The researchers noticed that operations took 40% much less time after the focus of care: the process took a mean of two hours and forty-five minutes, an hour and forty-five minutes lower than earlier than. As well as, the quantity of blood loss throughout the operation was strongly diminished, from a mean of 450 milliliters to only 50 milliliters.

The variety of unwanted side effects within the first month after surgical procedure remained the identical, the researchers discovered, however the severity of the unwanted side effects decreased. Earlier than the focus of surgical procedure, there have been extra frequent unwanted side effects of the operation that required repeat surgical procedure, and which in some circumstances have been life-threatening.

The researchers additionally discovered tentative proof of an enchancment in survival charges for youngsters operated on for neuroblastoma, however additional analysis is required to determine this distinction with extra certainty.

Prof. Dr. Marc Wijnen, pediatric oncology surgeon and analysis group chief on the Princess Máxima Middle for pediatric oncology, led the examine.

With this evaluation we present concrete outcomes of bringing collectively all care and analysis for youngsters with most cancers. Much less harm was finished to the wholesome tissue throughout the operation, leading to fewer problems for the kid.

As a common rule, the extra expertise a surgeon has, the higher the outcomes. The end result of the investigation didn’t shock me. It reveals that we will now provide kids with most cancers the very best therapy.”

Prof. Dr. Marc Wijnen, pediatric oncology surgeon and analysis group chief, Princess Máxima Middle for pediatric oncology

Prof. Dr. Rob Pieters, medical director and co-initiator of the Princess Máxima Middle for pediatric oncology, was additionally concerned within the analysis. He says:

‘Our important start line when establishing a single nationwide analysis hospital for childhood most cancers was that as a guardian you need the easiest care in your little one. What we already knew from observe, we now see expressed in numbers: by treating a uncommon illness extra usually, medical doctors turn out to be more and more higher at that therapy. And that results in higher outcomes for our youngsters.

‘On this examine, we give attention to the outcomes of surgical procedure in kids with neuroblastoma. I count on that now – virtually 5 years after the opening of the Princess Máxima Middle – the advantages of concentrated care and analysis will turn out to be clear for increasingly more types of childhood most cancers.’