Neuroblastoma is common, often lethal, and the only solid tumour of early childhood studied by large-scale screening.1 Screening involves urinary assay of catecholamine metabolites from tumour cells. If neuroblastoma was to begin as baenign but progress to more aggressive disease with unfavourable prognosis, screening ought to reduce mortality. Unfortunately, neuroblastoma is at least two entities.2 Biologically favourable neuroblastoma starts in infancy, typically stays benign, and completely regresses spontaneously in many patients. However, about half of cases develop after the age of 18 months with metastatic disease, and these patients do poorly despite aggressive treatment with little improvement in survival over the past 25 years.1 Molecular and pathological features accurately determine prognosis at diagnosis.
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