Association of spina bifida with cancer

Abstract

While the worldwide incidence of newborns with spinal dysraphism is decreasing, the majority of children now survive and reach adulthood, creating new challenges in patient management and long-term care. Despite medical and surgical advances with a subsequent decline in mortality, spina bifida continues to be a major cause of chronic disability and affected individuals face increased mortality in adulthood. The majority of spina bifida patients have neurogenic bladder. Reconstructive and diverting procedures may increase the neoplastic risk in the urinary tract over time, however bladder dysfunction itself may be a risk factor, therefore patients, caregivers, and physicians must be aware of the baseline risk of cancer in patients with neurogenic bladder, in addition to routine cancer screening. Optimal treatment of myelomeningocele requires a multidisciplinary care team to prevent and manage potential sequelae that may affect function, quality of life, and survival.