child screening programme

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Neuroblastoma

Neuroblastoma is a malignant childhood cancer and leukaemia of the sympathetic nervous system. Most tumours arise from the centre (medulla) of the adrenal gland which lies above the kidney. Other sites of the disease include the chest, the spine and the pelvis. Some tumours may disappear without treatment.

Read more about neuroblastoma on the NHS website.

UK NSC screening recommendation Based on the last UK NSC review of this condition that occurred in January 2016.

Screening is not currently recommended for this condition.

The UK NSC does not currently recommend screening for neuroblastoma. This is because:

  • it is not known if screening tests can tell the difference between cancers that do and do not need to be treated
  • screening may lead to people being treated without need
  • there is a lack of quality evidence that screening children at 18 months is beneficial
  • there is no evidence that screening would reduce deaths from neuroblastoma

Supporting documents from the 2016 review

Evidence summary Neuroblastoma (2015)
This document provides the evidence on which the current UK NSC recommendation is based.

Review cycle

Date previous review completed: 2016

Next review estimated to be completed: 2021 to 2022.

To see previous evidence reviews, visit the UK NSC archive.

Organisations interested in Neuroblastoma

These organisations have expressed interest in this recommendation and may submit responses to evidence reviews.

List of organisations

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