Background: The outcome of Wilms tumor therapy has improved significantly by wellplanned multimodality treatment. But there are a little early and late sequels developed during treatment especially in young patients. So, we analysed the characteristics of the patients who diagnosed before 12 months and the results of treatment.
Method: 10 Wilms tumor patientss who diagnosed before 12 months of age and treated at Yonsei Cancer Center, Seoul, Korea, between January 1984 and December 1993 were retrospectively analysed and compared with 36 patients who diagnosed after 1 year old during the same peoriod. The characteristics and treatment results were analysed between two groups.
Results: 10 patients were postoperatively staged as follows. Stage 1, 6 patients: Stage Ⅱ, 1 patient: Stage Ⅲ, 2 patients; and Stage V, 1 patient. All patients had a faborable histology. The actuarial 3-year survival rate for 10 cases and 36 cases was 90% and 65% respectively.
Conclusion: The age at diagnosis before 12 months had a good effect of 3-year survival rate, so less intensive chemotherapy and radiotherapy and shortening of chemotherapy schedule may be needed to low risk Wilms tumor patients in younger age group.