QUALITY OF LIFE IN CHILDREN TREATED FOR NEUROBLASTOMA: A MULTICENTER STUDY.

Objective: To determine the quality of life (QOL) of neuroblastoma patients in KSA using the WQOLQ, and to compare the QOL of patients with that of a comparison group and with respect to different variables. Methods: On 2015 a cross section study conducted by reviewing neuroblastoma data of three referral oncology centers in Riyadh, KSA. From 01 January 2006 to 31 December 2013, 46 neuroblastoma patients were recruited. Patients? parents were interviewed and answered questions according to the WQOLQ (total score range ?3 to 3). The same questionnaire was completed by interviewed the parents of 40 healthy children, and the findings from neuroblastoma patients and healthy comparisongroup were compared. Results: The mean QOL score was 1.68 ?0.57 for neuroblastoma and 1.89 ?0.49 for comparison group, with no significant difference between the two groups (p=0.863). Patients who received a combination of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgical intervention had no significant difference QOL score in comparison to those who received less (p=0.226). Patients who attended school had higher QOL scores than lower-educated patients (p<0.001). Conclusion: This study revealed no difference in QOL scores between children with neuroblastoma and healthy children (p=0.863).