Clinical patterns, treatment outcomes and determinant factors in children with neuroblastoma in a tertiary referral hospital in Ethiopia
The 1‑year and 5‑year overall survival (OS) rates for children with neuroblastoma in our setting were considerably lower than those reported in other studies.
Neuroblastoma is the most common extra‑cranial solid tumour in children and accounts for 15 % of childhood cancer deaths. In this hospital‑based cross‑sectional study of 101 Ethiopian children diagnosed between 2014 and 2023, the majority presented with advanced stage disease and a median time to presentation of 8 weeks. Overall survival at 1 year was 72.4 % and at 5 years 48.5 %, markedly lower than figures reported in high‑income settings.
Late presentation and poor survival outcomes underscore the need for earlier detection, stronger diagnostic pathways, and more intensive treatment protocols in resource‑limited settings to improve survival of children with neuroblastoma.
Evidence level: Korai humán adat. Kis vagy feltáró emberi adat.
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