Environ Health. 2026 Jan 24. doi: 10.1186/s12940-026-01266-y. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Neuroblastic tumours (neuroblastoma and ganglioneuroblastoma) are the most common childhood solid tumours outside the central nervous system, with a median age of diagnosis of 2 years. Temporal clustering of neuroblastic tumours in northern England and Ontario, Canada has been previously reported.
METHODS: We extracted data from the Scottish Cancer Registry to determine whether there was evidence of temporal clustering of neuroblastic tumours. Cases diagnosed in children and young adults aged 0-24 years between 2000 and 2020 were analysed. A modified version of the Potthoff-Whittinghill method was used to test for temporal clustering. Estimates of extra-Poisson variation (EPV) and standard errors (SE) were derived.
RESULTS: One hundred and sixty-one cases of neuroblastic tumours, aged 0-24 years, were diagnosed during the study period. Overall, there was statistically significant temporal clustering between years within the full study period (EPV = 9.13, SE = 0.22, P < 0.001). In addition, for cases aged < 18 months, there was significant temporal clustering between months within quarters (EPV = 0.77, SE = 0.41, P = 0.044). For cases aged 18 months – 24 years, there was significant temporal clustering between fortnights within months (EPV = 1.00, SE = 0.47, P = 0.012).
CONCLUSIONS: The finding of temporal clustering is consistent with the involvement of one or more, as yet unknown, transient environmental agents in the aetiology of neuroblastic tumours.
PMID:41580800 | DOI:10.1186/s12940-026-01266-y
