Neonatal cancer in Denmark 1943-1985

In order to describe the incidence, distribution, and prognosis of neonatal cancer, 76 cases (44 boys, 32 girls) of cancer in the first 28 days of life were identified in the Danish Cancer Registry within the period 1943-1985. All cases were reevaluated and the International Classification of Disease for Oncology (ICD-O) code was applied. The incidence is calculated to 2.38 (1.88-2.98) cases per 100,000 births. The most common tumor was neuroblastoma (26%) followed by leukemias (16%), soft-tissue sarcomas (14%), and brain tumors (11%). The 5-year survival rate was 25% (15.1-39.0) with the highest survival rate among soft-tissue sarcomas (55%) and neuroblastomas (25%) and the lowest among leukemias and brain tumors (0). Eighteen percent of the cases were incidental findings. Two cases of secondary malignancy were identified.