Surgical challenges associated with intensive treatment protocols for high-risk neuroblastoma.

Background: High-risk neuroblastoma (NB; age, >1 year; INSS stage 4) is associated with a poor outcome. At our institution, the current dose-intensive high-risk Children's Oncology Group protocol for advanced NB appears to have a higher surgical complication rate as compared with previous protocols.

Methods: All stage 4 patients (n = 51) entered in high-risk protocols between 1995 and 2005 were analyzed.

Is surgery necessary for incidentally discovered adrenal masses in children?

Background: There are no guidelines that exist to direct the management of incidental adrenal masses (IAM) in children. The aim of this study was to determine if there is a subset of IAMs that could be safely observed.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted of all adrenal masses that were either resected or biopsied between 1990 and 2002 (n = 91) at the Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto.