Assessment of the validity of image-defined risk factors (IDRFs) in abdominal neuroblastoma

Abstract Background Neuroblastoma is the third most common childhood cancer. It is the most common extra-cranial solid tumor of childhood. It accounts for about 15% of all pediatric cancer fatalities. The International Neuroblastoma Risk Group (INRG) Project proposed a new staging system which is dependent on whether image-defined risk factors (IDRFs) are or are not present, and IDRFs are surgical risk factors, detected on images, that make total tumor excision risky or difficult. The purpose of the study is to assess the validity of using the image-defined risk factors (IDRFs) of abdominal neuroblastoma as predictors of the surgical resectability and complications. Methods We retrospectively studied the clinical, imaging, and surgical data of 43 patients with abdominal neuroblastoma, and then the results were correlated with each. For comparing categorical data, chi-square (χ 2) test was performed. P values less than 0.05 were considered as statistically significant. Results At least 1 pre-operative IDRF was present in 33 cases (76.7%), and they were absent in 10 cases (23.3%). There was statistical significant correlation between the pre-operative IDRFs and surgical resectability, and the complete resection rate if no IDRF was found was 80% in this study. Out of the 13 cases with surgical complications, pre-operative IDRFs were present in 12 cases. Conclusion The neuroblastoma IDRFs are useful predictors of the surgical resectability and the risk of surgical complications and should be considered in surgical planning.