ISSN:
1432-1076
Keywords:
Neuroblastoma
;
Mass screening
;
Vanillylmandelic acid
;
Homovanillic acid
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract Fluctuations in the amount of vanillylmandelic acid (VMA) and homovanillic acid (HVA) were studied in random urine samples from 13 infants with neuroblastoma. In patients with a small tumour, many samples contained amounts below the cut off values, suggesting that detection of a patient with neuroblastoma depended on mathematical probability. Using high performance liquid chromatography a patient with a tumour of about 10 g may well be overlooked, whereas a patient whose tumour weighs over 30 g would probably be detected. With qualitative screening, although more likely to miss a patient with low VMA excretion, a patient with a tumour weighing over 50 g would be detected. In a thorough hospital examination care should be exercised in interpreting borderline values of VMA and HVA; excretion information suggesting the existence of a tumour may aid localization by radiological imaging procedures.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF02072074