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Japanese experience of screening
T Takeda1, Y Hatae, H Nakadate
1Department of Pediatrics, Sapporo National Hospital, Japan.
Medical and Pediatric Oncology
|January 1, 1989
Summary
Early detection of neuroblastoma through mass screening in Sapporo infants significantly improves survival rates. This urine screening program identifies tumors in younger patients, leading to better outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Oncology
- Public Health Screening
- Biochemical Diagnostics
Background:
- Neuroblastoma is a significant childhood cancer.
- Early detection is crucial for improving patient survival rates.
- Mass screening programs can aid in early diagnosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of a long-term mass screening program for neuroblastoma in infants.
- To assess the impact of early detection on neuroblastoma patient outcomes.
- To analyze the incidence and detection rates of neuroblastoma in a screened infant population.
Main Methods:
- Urine screening for VMA and HVA in infants at approximately 6 months of age.
- Quantitative determination using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).
- Analysis of screening data over a 7-year period, including a cohort of 104,000 infants.
Main Results:
- 19 neuroblastoma cases detected in 104,000 screened infants (incidence 1:5,500).
- Most detected patients survived disease-free post-surgery.
- Screening identified cases at earlier stages and younger ages compared to previous detection methods.
- No positive cases found in 10,000 neonates, but 2 were later detected via 6-month screening (1:5,000).
Conclusions:
- Infant mass screening for neuroblastoma in Sapporo has successfully increased early-stage diagnoses.
- The program has demonstrably improved survival rates for neuroblastoma patients.
- Early detection via urine screening is a key factor in enhancing neuroblastoma treatment outcomes.