Mass screening for neuroblastoma in infants in Japan. Interim report of a mass screening study group

A mass screening system for the early detection by means of a vanillylmandelic acid test of neuroblastoma in 6-month-old infants in Japan has been developed in eight districts. 16 of the 281 939 infants screened by this test had neuroblastoma, equivalent to a very high incidence of 1 in 17 621. 15 of the 16 children with neuroblastoma are alive; the other child died 1 month after surgery. This mass screening system for neuroblastoma used in infancy can help to improve prognosis in infants with this malignant disorder.