Multidisciplinary approach to Wilms' tumor: 18 years of experience

BACKGROUND The aim was to evaluate the characteristics of Wilms' tumor and the results of combined modality treatment obtained in our center in Turkey. METHODS From January 1978 to December 1996, 106 patients with Wilms' tumor were diagnosed. Of these 106 patients, 61 were male and 45 were female (M/F = 1,35); the median age at diagnosis was 39 months. The distribution of the 106 patients according to clinical stage was stage I 10%, stage II 42%, stage III 35%, stage IV 9% and stage V 4%. Histologically, 102 of the cases could be evaluated: favorable histology was diagnosed in 88.2% and unfavorable histology in 11.8% of the patients. Ninety-eight patients were treated according to NWTS and eight patients according to SIOP protocols. RESULTS The EFS and overall survival rates at 2 years were 74.2 and 79.5% respectively, and at 5 years 72.4 and 76.6% respectively. CONCLUSION As a developing country we evaluated our survival rates and report an improvement in treatment in recent years.