Background
Image‐guided percutaneous core needle biopsy (PCNB) is increasingly utilized to diagnose solid tumors. The objective of this study is to determine whether PCNB is adequate for modern biologic characterization of neuroblastoma.
Procedure
A multi‐institutional retrospective study was performed by the Pediatric Surgical Oncology Research Collaborative on children with neuroblastoma at 12 institutions over a 3‐year period. Data collected included demographics, clinical details, biopsy technique, complications, and adequacy of biopsies for cytogenetic markers utilized by the Children's Oncology Group for risk stratification.
Results
A total of 243 children were identified with a diagnosis of neuroblastoma: 79 (32.5%) tumor excision at diagnosis, 94 (38.7%) open incisional biopsy (IB), and 70 (28.8%) PCNB. Compared to IB, there was no significant difference in ability to accurately obtain a primary diagnosis by PCNB (95.7% vs 98.9%, P = .314) or determine MYCN copy number (92.4% vs 97.8%, P = .111). The yield for loss of heterozygosity and tumor ploidy was lower with PCNB versus IB (56.1% vs 90.9%, P < .05; and 58.0% vs. 88.5%, P < .05). Complications did not differ between groups (2.9 % vs 3.3%, P = 1.000), though the PCNB group had fewer blood transfusions and lower opioid usage. Efficacy of PCNB was improved for loss of heterozygosity when a pediatric pathologist evaluated the fresh specimen for adequacy.
Conclusions
PCNB is a less invasive alternative to open biopsy for primary diagnosis and MYCN oncogene status in patients with neuroblastoma. Our data suggest that PCNB could be optimized for complete genetic analysis by standardized protocols and real‐time pathology assessment of specimen quality.
BACKGROUND: Stage I epithelial-predominant favorable-histology Wilms tumors (EFHWTs) have long been suspected to have an excellent outcome. This study investigates the clinical and pathologic features of patients with stage I EFHWTs to better evaluate the potential for a reduction of chemotherapy and its associated toxicity. METHODS: All patients registered in the Children's Oncology Group (COG) AREN03B2 study between 2006 and 2017 with stage I EFHWTs were identified. EFHWTs were defined as tumors with at least 66% epithelial differentiation, regardless of the degree of differentiation. Clinical information was abstracted from COG records. Event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS) were calculated and compared between groups based on age and therapy. RESULTS: The 4-year EFS rate was 96.2% (95% confidence interval, 92%-100%), and the OS rate was 100%; EFS and OS did not statistically significantly differ with the age at diagnosis (<48 vs ≥48 months; P = .37) or treatment (EE4A vs observation only; P = .55). Six events were reported. Three patients developed contralateral tumors and did not otherwise relapse; none of these had nephrogenic rests or a recognized predisposition syndrome. Three patients developed metastatic recurrence; all 3 had received EE4A as their primary therapy after nephrectomy. CONCLUSIONS: These findings demonstrate an excellent outcome for stage I EFHWTs with >95% EFS and OS. These data support the utility of investigating the treatment of stage I EFHWTs with observation alone after nephrectomy. Cancer 2020;126: 2866-2871.
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