ORAL PRESENTATION Open Access Neuroblastoma and nephroblastoma: an overview and comparison

Neuroblastoma (NBL) is the most common extra-cranial tumour in childhood [1] and commonly presents as an abdominal mass. Nephroblastoma, also more commonly known as a Wilms ’ tumour, is the commonest renal tumour in childhood and also typically presents as abdominal pathology. The natural histories and typical clinical courses of these tumours are very different, thus early distinction is important. Both occur in early child-hood, with Wilms ’ having a slightly older peak incidence at between 3 – 4 years. Histologically, they are different diseases with NBLs arising from primordial neural crest cells [1] and Wilms ’ being undifferentiated mesodermal tumours [2]. The heterogeneity of NBLs and their biolo-gical characteristics mean the prognosis is highly variable; tumour stage, patient age, tumour oncogenes and DN