In a cohort study we investigated the incidence and distribution of the age and stage of neuroblastoma at diagnosis, and the outcome, in children aged 0-14 years during 1988-1998 in Hungary. The proportion of neuroblastoma in age groups of 0 year old, 1-4 year old, 5-9 year old and 10-14 year old children was 30%, 53%, 12% and 5%, respectively. The proportion of stage 1-2, stage 3-4 and stage 4s cases was 30%, 65% and 3%, respectively. Hungarian data were compared with data reported for other Western European countries. The distribution of age at diagnosis of Hungarian cases was significantly different from France and Germany (p < 0.05), but not different from that of the United Kingdom (UK). However, the proportion of stage 1-2 neuroblastoma was higher in Hungarian children (30%) than that reported in French, German and UK children. The incidence and survival of neuroblastoma in Hungary is broadly comparable to that reported elsewhere in Europe.