Key Statistics About Neuroblastoma
Neuroblastoma is by far the most common cancer in infants (less than 1 year old). It accounts for about 6% of all cancers in children. There are about 800 new cases of neuroblastoma each year in the United States. This number has remained about the same for many years.
The average age of children when they are diagnosed is about 1 to 2 years. In rare cases, neuroblastoma is detected by ultrasound even before birth. Nearly 90% of cases are diagnosed by age 5. Neuroblastoma is rare in people over the age of 10 years.
In about 2 of 3 cases, the disease has already spread to the lymph nodes or to other parts of the body when it is diagnosed.
Statistics related to survival are discussed in Survival Rates for Neuroblastoma Based on Risk Groups.
Visit the American Cancer Society’s Cancer Statistics Center for more key statistics.
The American Cancer Society medical and editorial content team
Our team is made up of doctors and oncology certified nurses with deep knowledge of cancer care as well as journalists, editors, and translators with extensive experience in medical writing.
American Cancer Society. Cancer Facts & Figures 2020. Atlanta, Ga: American Cancer Society; 2020.
Brodeur GM, Hogarty MD, Bagatell R, Mosse YP, Maris JM. Neuroblastoma. In: Pizzo PA, Poplack DG, eds. Principles and Practice of Pediatric Oncology. 7th ed. Philadelphia Pa: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2016:772–792.
Last Medical Review: March 19, 2018 Last Revised: January 8, 2020
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