GITNUXREPORT 2025

Neuroblastoma Statistics

Neuroblastoma affects young children, with variable survival and treatment outcomes.

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

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Statistic 1

Neuroblastoma is more prevalent in children of Caucasian ethnicity compared to African-American or Asian populations

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Neuroblastoma accounts for approximately 6-10% of all childhood cancers

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The annual incidence of neuroblastoma is about 10.2 cases per million children under 15 years old globally

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Neuroblastoma predominantly affects children under the age of 5, with about 80% of cases diagnosed by age 5

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The median age at diagnosis for neuroblastoma is approximately 17 months

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Neuroblastoma accounts for around 7% of all pediatric cancers

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Approximately 40-50% of neuroblastoma cases show metastasis at diagnosis, often to bones, bone marrow, liver, and skin

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Neuroblastoma accounts for approximately 15% of pediatric cancer fatalities

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The median age at diagnosis for high-risk neuroblastoma is roughly 2 years old

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Neuroblastoma can spontaneously regress in some infants, especially around 12 months of age, in about 1-2% of cases

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Approximately 60% of neuroblastoma tumors originate in the adrenal glands

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Neuroblastoma symptoms vary widely but commonly include abdominal pain, a palpable mass, and signs of metastasis like bone pain or skin lesions

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Neuroblastoma has a higher incidence in boys than girls, with a ratio of approximately 1.2:1

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Only about 30% of neuroblastoma cases present with localized disease at diagnosis, the rest are metastatic or advanced

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The incidence of neuroblastoma is higher in infants and decreases with age, with the few cases in adolescents and adults often associated with poorer prognosis

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Neuroblastoma is diagnosed through a combination of imaging, biopsy, and检测 catecholamine metabolites in urine, with no single definitive test

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Approximately 10-15% of neuroblastoma patients have congenital neuroblastoma detected prenatally via ultrasound

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MYCN gene amplification occurs in approximately 20-25% of neuroblastoma cases and is associated with poor prognosis

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Amplification of the ALK gene is present in approximately 10-15% of neuroblastoma cases, associated with poorer outcomes

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Neuroblastoma tumors often produce catecholamines, with elevated levels of homovanillic acid (HVA) and vanillylmandelic acid (VMA) used as diagnostic markers

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Genetic factors such as chromosome 1p deletion and 11q deletion are associated with poorer prognosis in neuroblastoma

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The gene PHOX2B is involved in neuroblastoma development, especially in cases associated with neurocristopathies like Hirschsprung disease

Statistic 23

In children, neuroblastoma has a survival rate of about 75% for low-risk cases, but less than 50% for high-risk cases

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The overall five-year survival rate for neuroblastoma varies significantly depending on risk stratification, with about 80-90% in low-risk and less than 50% in high-risk groups

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The International Neuroblastoma Risk Group (INRG) classification divides neuroblastoma into low, intermediate, and high-risk groups, which heavily influence prognosis

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Standard risk neuroblastoma has a five-year survival rate exceeding 90%, while high-risk can be as low as 40-50%

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Neuroblastoma often metastasizes early, which is a key factor in its prognosis and treatment approach

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Approximately 15-20% of neuroblastoma cases have spontaneous differentiation into benign ganglioneuroma, especially in infants, leading to better outcomes

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Relapse occurs in approximately 40-50% of children with high-risk neuroblastoma, often leading to poor prognosis

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Children's neuroblastoma survival rates have improved significantly over the past 30 years due to advances in treatment, from about 20% to over 70% for some risk groups

Statistic 31

In recent years, immunotherapy using anti-GD2 monoclonal antibodies has increased survival rates in high-risk groups by approximately 20-30%

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The expression of TrkA neurotrophin receptor in neuroblastoma is associated with favorable prognosis, especially in infants

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The main treatment options for neuroblastoma include surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy

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Newer targeted therapies, including ALK inhibitors and anti-GD2 antibodies, are improving outcomes for high-risk neuroblastoma patients

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The drug dinutuximab, an anti-GD2 antibody, is approved for treatment of high-risk neuroblastoma in children, significantly improving survival in clinical trials

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The median duration of treatment for high-risk neuroblastoma may extend over 12-18 months, involving multiple modalities and phases

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High-risk neuroblastoma patients often undergo stem cell transplant following high-dose chemotherapy to improve outcomes

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Key Highlights

Neuroblastoma accounts for approximately 6-10% of all childhood cancers
The annual incidence of neuroblastoma is about 10.2 cases per million children under 15 years old globally
Neuroblastoma predominantly affects children under the age of 5, with about 80% of cases diagnosed by age 5
The median age at diagnosis for neuroblastoma is approximately 17 months
Neuroblastoma accounts for around 7% of all pediatric cancers
In children, neuroblastoma has a survival rate of about 75% for low-risk cases, but less than 50% for high-risk cases
MYCN gene amplification occurs in approximately 20-25% of neuroblastoma cases and is associated with poor prognosis
Approximately 40-50% of neuroblastoma cases show metastasis at diagnosis, often to bones, bone marrow, liver, and skin
The overall five-year survival rate for neuroblastoma varies significantly depending on risk stratification, with about 80-90% in low-risk and less than 50% in high-risk groups
Neuroblastoma accounts for approximately 15% of pediatric cancer fatalities
The median age at diagnosis for high-risk neuroblastoma is roughly 2 years old
Neuroblastoma can spontaneously regress in some infants, especially around 12 months of age, in about 1-2% of cases
Approximately 60% of neuroblastoma tumors originate in the adrenal glands

Neuroblastoma, a rare yet formidable pediatric cancer accounting for 6-10% of childhood cancers, primarily strikes children under five, with groundbreaking advances in targeted therapies and immunotherapy offering new hope amid its complex diagnosis and variable prognosis.

Demographic and Risk Factors

Neuroblastoma is more prevalent in children of Caucasian ethnicity compared to African-American or Asian populations

Demographic and Risk Factors Interpretation

The disparity in neuroblastoma prevalence among different ethnicities underscores the urgent need for targeted research and equitable healthcare strategies to understand and address the genetic and environmental factors at play.

Epidemiology and Incidence

Neuroblastoma accounts for approximately 6-10% of all childhood cancers
The annual incidence of neuroblastoma is about 10.2 cases per million children under 15 years old globally
Neuroblastoma predominantly affects children under the age of 5, with about 80% of cases diagnosed by age 5
The median age at diagnosis for neuroblastoma is approximately 17 months
Neuroblastoma accounts for around 7% of all pediatric cancers
Approximately 40-50% of neuroblastoma cases show metastasis at diagnosis, often to bones, bone marrow, liver, and skin
Neuroblastoma accounts for approximately 15% of pediatric cancer fatalities
The median age at diagnosis for high-risk neuroblastoma is roughly 2 years old
Neuroblastoma can spontaneously regress in some infants, especially around 12 months of age, in about 1-2% of cases
Approximately 60% of neuroblastoma tumors originate in the adrenal glands
Neuroblastoma symptoms vary widely but commonly include abdominal pain, a palpable mass, and signs of metastasis like bone pain or skin lesions
Neuroblastoma has a higher incidence in boys than girls, with a ratio of approximately 1.2:1
Only about 30% of neuroblastoma cases present with localized disease at diagnosis, the rest are metastatic or advanced
The incidence of neuroblastoma is higher in infants and decreases with age, with the few cases in adolescents and adults often associated with poorer prognosis
Neuroblastoma is diagnosed through a combination of imaging, biopsy, and检测 catecholamine metabolites in urine, with no single definitive test
Approximately 10-15% of neuroblastoma patients have congenital neuroblastoma detected prenatally via ultrasound

Epidemiology and Incidence Interpretation

While neuroblastoma accounts for a modest 6-10% of childhood cancers—primarily striking before age five and often metastasizing by diagnosis—it reminds us that even in the youngest of patients, a silent adversary can emerge, making early detection and targeted research vital in turning the tide on this formidable foe.

Genetics and Molecular Markers

MYCN gene amplification occurs in approximately 20-25% of neuroblastoma cases and is associated with poor prognosis
Amplification of the ALK gene is present in approximately 10-15% of neuroblastoma cases, associated with poorer outcomes
Neuroblastoma tumors often produce catecholamines, with elevated levels of homovanillic acid (HVA) and vanillylmandelic acid (VMA) used as diagnostic markers
Genetic factors such as chromosome 1p deletion and 11q deletion are associated with poorer prognosis in neuroblastoma
The gene PHOX2B is involved in neuroblastoma development, especially in cases associated with neurocristopathies like Hirschsprung disease

Genetics and Molecular Markers Interpretation

Neuroblastoma's grim prognosis is underscored by genetic aberrations like MYCN and ALK amplifications, chromosome deletions, and PHOX2B involvement, painting a complex portrait where tumor biology, detectable via catecholamine markers, demands both vigilant diagnosis and targeted interventions.

Prognosis and Survival Rates

In children, neuroblastoma has a survival rate of about 75% for low-risk cases, but less than 50% for high-risk cases
The overall five-year survival rate for neuroblastoma varies significantly depending on risk stratification, with about 80-90% in low-risk and less than 50% in high-risk groups
The International Neuroblastoma Risk Group (INRG) classification divides neuroblastoma into low, intermediate, and high-risk groups, which heavily influence prognosis
Standard risk neuroblastoma has a five-year survival rate exceeding 90%, while high-risk can be as low as 40-50%
Neuroblastoma often metastasizes early, which is a key factor in its prognosis and treatment approach
Approximately 15-20% of neuroblastoma cases have spontaneous differentiation into benign ganglioneuroma, especially in infants, leading to better outcomes
Relapse occurs in approximately 40-50% of children with high-risk neuroblastoma, often leading to poor prognosis
Children's neuroblastoma survival rates have improved significantly over the past 30 years due to advances in treatment, from about 20% to over 70% for some risk groups
In recent years, immunotherapy using anti-GD2 monoclonal antibodies has increased survival rates in high-risk groups by approximately 20-30%
The expression of TrkA neurotrophin receptor in neuroblastoma is associated with favorable prognosis, especially in infants

Prognosis and Survival Rates Interpretation

While advances in treatment have transformed neuroblastoma from a nearly universally ominous diagnosis into a disease with survival rates soaring above 90% for low-risk children, the stark disparity—dropping below 50% for high-risk cases—serves as a sobering reminder that early detection, precise risk stratification, and innovative therapies like immunotherapy are crucial in tipping the scales towards hope.

Treatment Options and Therapies

The main treatment options for neuroblastoma include surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy
Newer targeted therapies, including ALK inhibitors and anti-GD2 antibodies, are improving outcomes for high-risk neuroblastoma patients
The drug dinutuximab, an anti-GD2 antibody, is approved for treatment of high-risk neuroblastoma in children, significantly improving survival in clinical trials
The median duration of treatment for high-risk neuroblastoma may extend over 12-18 months, involving multiple modalities and phases
High-risk neuroblastoma patients often undergo stem cell transplant following high-dose chemotherapy to improve outcomes

Treatment Options and Therapies Interpretation

While advancements like targeted therapies and immunotherapy offer new hope, the arduous 12-18 month journey of treating high-risk neuroblastoma—often culminating in stem cell transplants—reminds us that patience and persistence remain our most vital weapons against this formidable foe.