Objective To analyze the effect of radiotherapy on the prognosis of pediatric high-risk neuroblastoma (NB).

Methods The clinical data of 100 cases of high-risk NB were retrospectively analyzed. The influencing factors affecting NB recurrence and survival were assessed through single factor analysis. The recurrence-free survival and overall survival of NB in radiotherapy group and non-radiotherapy group were analyzed by Kaplan-Meier method. The recurrence-free survival rate and overall survival rate of NB were compared by Log-rank.

Results Of 100 children with NB, 34 recurred, 66 did not relapse, 74 survived, and 26 died. Univariate analysis showed that age, distant tumor metastasis and radiotherapy were influencing factors of tumor recurrence in NB children(P < 0.05), while age, distant tumor metastasis, and MYCN gene amplification were influencing factors of survival of NB children (P < 0.05). The results of survival analysis showed that there was statistically significant difference in relapse-free survival rate between the radiotherapy group and the non-radiotherapy group (P < 0.05), but there was no statistically significant difference in overall survival rate between the two groups (P>0.05).

Conclusion Age, distant tumor metastasis, and radiotherapy are risk factors for NB recurrence, while age, distant tumor metastasis, and MYCN gene amplification are influencing factors for NB survival. Radiotherapy can improve the recurrence-free survival rate of children with high-risk NB, but it has no significant effect on the overall survival rate.