Neuroblastoma accounts for approximately 7% of cancers in children under 15 years. It is considered as the 3rd most common cancer after hematologic malignancies and tumors of the central nervous system.
Overall, neuroblastoma represent environ 15% of cancer death among children; the tumor causes nearly 10 deaths per million children aged 0-4 years old, and 4 deaths per million in children aged 4-9 years old. Number of people diagnosed with neuroblastoma each year in the US is estimated at 650, according to the American Cancer Society.
Incidence of neuroblastoma decreases with age. According to the National Cancer Institute, incidence decreases every consecutive year up to age 10, after which the disease is rare. Age distribution at diagnosis is as follows:
- 40% patients are younger than 1 year,
- 35% patients are aged 1-2 years
- 25% patients are older than 2 years.