Vascular encasement image defined risk factors independently predict surgical complications in neuroblastoma

Specific image defined risk factors (IDRF) immediately prior to surgery may be more relevant to paediatric oncology surgeons than pre-neoadjuvant IDRFs at diagnosis. The aim of this study was to determine IDRF subtypes that independently predict postoperative complications.

We searched the New Zealand Children's Cancer Registry for all cases of neuroblastoma treated at a single paediatric oncology centre between January 2007 and February 2021 and determined the IDRF status on pre-operative imaging at diagnosis and after neoadjuvant therapy. Surgical complications (Clavien-Dindo grade) were correlated with total number of IDRFs (pre- and post-chemotherapy) and three subsets: vascular encasement (VE), invasive (I), and extensive (E).

Of 101 patients, 73 underwent surgical resection, and 32 (44%) had a surgical complication. Of the 54 IDRF-positive tumours, all were treated by neoadjuvant therapy and in 17, all IDRFs resolved. Complications correlated with the number of post-neoadjuvant therapy VE-IDRFs at OR 1.2 (95% CI 1.0-1.4, P = 0.02) and extensive IDRFs at OR 1.7 (95% CI 1.1-1.9, P = 0.02). Pre-neoadjuvant IDRF status was not independently associated with complications when controlling for post-neoadjuvant IDRF status. The total number of VE-IDRF reduced from 181 pre-neoadjuvant therapy to 86 post, with tumour encasing the aorta and/or vena cava being the most common.

The vascular encasement and extensive subtypes of IDRF may be more useful prognostic indicators of surgical complications than the total number of IDRFs. This may have implications for reporting IDRF status on preoperative imaging and surgical planning but needs validation in larger cohort studies.