QUALITY-OF-LIFE OF PATIENTS DETECTED IN MASS-SCREENING FOR NEUROBLASTOMA

Introduction: Most of the children identified with neuroblastoma in mass screening for neuroblastoma are cured, but little is known about their quality of life, We investigated quality of life characteristics in these children as compared with those who had false positive results from this screening, Methods: A questionnaire was sent to every family of a child with neuroblastoma identified by mass screening and treated in Sapporo National Hospital and to every family of a child found to be false positive in this screening. Quality of life features investigated included growth, development, vaccinations and problems of daily life, Results: In the children who had neuroblastoma there was delay in the onset of walking, low coverage rates of DPT and polio vaccinations, and greater likelihood of contracting infectious diseases at kindergarten, However, they had little disadvantage in leading their daily lives, In fact, they had accelerated onset of speaking a word of significant meaning, Surgical operations and chemotherapy had virtually no effect in growth, and side effects by chemotherapy were slight. There was no restriction upon their physical exercise at kindergarten. Conclusions. Mass screening for neuroblastoma does not have an adverse effect on the daily life of children found to have neuroblastoma.