Who can enter
- Children with neuroblastoma who are undergoing surgery to remove the tumor
- Age: 0 to 18 years
Goal
In this study, we aim to compare tumor tissue that has been removed during surgery with the MRI and MIBG scans taken before the operation. With this comparison, we hope to investigate the tumor in greater detail.
Background
During surgery for neuroblastoma, as much tumor tissue as possible is removed. This can be challenging because neuroblastoma often grows around and into major blood vessels and vital organs.
Sometimes, the surgeon has to decide to leave some tissue behind. In making such decisions, the preoperative MRI and/or MIBG scans are reviewed. If these scans show that the piece of tissue in question still absorbs MIBG or appears very active on the MRI, the surgeon may be willing to take more risk to remove it than if the scans suggest it is no longer active tumor tissue. However, we are not certain how well these scans correlate with tissue examination results.
Therefore, in this study, we want to link the imaging results — the MRI and MIBG scans — to the tissue examination results after surgery. This will help us investigate whether we can identify active tissue before surgery that needs to be removed, and also recognize inactive tissue that might safely be left behind if it cannot be removed without risk.
No additional procedures or measurements are required for this study, and it poses no risks to the patient. The data used are part of standard clinical care.