MedicineNet.com
About Us | Privacy Policy | Site Map
November 25, 2009
MedicineNet home Picture Slideshows Diseases and conditions Symptoms and signs Procedures and tests Medications Health and Living Picture Image Collection MedTerms medical dictionary
Font Size
A
A
A

Neuroblastoma (cont.)

Treatment options for neuroblastoma

Low-risk neuroblastoma

Treatment of low-risk neuroblastoma may include the following:

  • Surgery followed by watchful waiting.


  • Watchful waiting alone for certain infants.


  • Surgery followed by chemotherapy, when less than half of the tumor is removed or when serious symptoms cannot be relieved by surgery.


  • Radiation therapy to treat tumors that are causing serious problems and do not respond quickly to chemotherapy.


  • Low-dose chemotherapy.

Intermediate-risk neuroblastoma

Treatment of intermediate-risk neuroblastoma may include the following:

  • Chemotherapy.


  • Chemotherapy followed by surgery and/or radiation therapy.


  • Radiation therapy to treat tumors that are causing serious problems and do not respond quickly to chemotherapy.

High-risk neuroblastoma

Treatment of high-risk neuroblastoma may include the following:

  • High-dose chemotherapy followed by surgery to remove as much of the tumor as possible.


  • Radiation therapy to the tumor site and, if needed, to other parts of the body with cancer.


  • Stem cell transplant.


  • Chemotherapy followed by 13-cis retinoic acid.


  • A clinical trial of monoclonal antibody therapy after chemotherapy.


  • A clinical trial of radiation therapy with radioactive iodine before stem cell transplant.


  • A clinical trial of stem cell transplant followed by 13-cis retinoic acid.

This summary section refers to specific treatments under study in clinical trials, but it may not mention every new treatment being studied.

Progressive/recurrent neuroblastoma

Patients first treated for low-risk neuroblastoma

Treatment for recurrent neuroblastoma that is found in one place in the body may include the following:

  • Surgery followed by watchful waiting or chemotherapy.


  • Chemotherapy.


  • High-dose chemotherapy, stem cell transplant, and 13-cis retinoic acid.

Treatment for recurrent neuroblastoma that has spread to other parts of the body may include the following:

  • Watchful waiting.


  • Surgery followed by chemotherapy.


  • Chemotherapy.


  • High-dose chemotherapy, stem cell transplant, and 13-cis retinoic acid.


  • A clinical trial of a new treatment.

Patients first treated for intermediate-risk neuroblastoma

For recurrent neuroblastoma that is found in one place in the body, treatment is usually surgery, with or without chemotherapy.

For recurrent neuroblastoma that has spread to other parts of the body, treatment is usually high-dose chemotherapy, stem cell transplant, and 13-cis retinoic acid.

Patients first treated for high-risk neuroblastoma

Treatment of recurrent neuroblastoma in patients first treated for high-risk neuroblastoma may include the following:

  • A clinical trial of chemotherapy followed by monoclonal antibody therapy.


  • A clinical trial of radiation therapy with radioactive iodine, alone or before stem cell transplant.


  • A clinical trial of stem cell transplant.

This summary section refers to specific treatments under study in clinical trials, but it may not mention every new treatment being studied.

SOURCE: U.S. National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute


Last Editorial Review: 12/19/2007




Printer-Friendly Format  |  Email to a Friend


Suggested Reading by Our Doctors
MedicineNet Doctors
  • CT Scan (Computerized Axial Tomography) - CT Scan (Computerized Axial Tomography, CAT scan) is a procedure that assists in diagnosing tumors, fractures, bony structures, and infections in the organs and tissues of the body.
  • High Blood Pressure - Learn about high blood pressure symptoms like headache, dizziness, shortness of breath, blurred vision and more. Causes, and normal blood pressure information is included.
  • MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging Scan) - Medical information on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) used in detecting structural abnormalities of the body. Learn uses, risks, and how to prepare for an MRI scan

Latest Medical News


Cancer

Get the latest treatment options.


Are you Depressed? Take the Quiz

Your Guide to Symptoms & Signs: Pinpoint Your Pain












Health categories:

Slideshows | Diseases & Conditions | Symptoms & Signs | Procedures & Tests | Medications | Health & Living | News & Views | Medical Dictionary

Popular health centers:

Allergies | Arthritis | Cancer | Diabetes | Digestion | Healthy Kids | Heart | Men's Health | Mental Health | Women's Health | More...

Publications:

ePublications (PDFs) | XML News via RSS | Audio Podcasts | Email Newsletters

MedicineNet.com:

About Us | Privacy Policy | Site Map | WebMD® | Medscape® | eMedicine® | eMedicineHealth® | RxList®

This website is certified by Health On the Net Foundation. Click to verify. This site complies to the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information:
verify here.

©1996-2009 MedicineNet, Inc. All rights reserved. Notices and Legal Disclaimer.
MedicineNet does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. See additional information.