Infant cancers: epidemiological study of 90 cases

ABSTRACT

The cancer of infant is a rare event. The differences of infant cancer types lead to a different approach of diagnosis and treatment. This study is a retrospective analysis of all cases of cancer in infants less than 1 year-old in the Paediatric Oncology Unit of Rabat Children Hospital. From January 1992 to December 2002, 90 infants were followed-up for cancer. Neuroblastoma was the most frequent tumour [34%], followed by nephroblastoma [15%], leukaemia [13%], sarcoma [11%] and retinoblastoma [8%]. Germinal cell tumours were found in 6 cases and hepatoblastoma in 3 cases. Treatment consisted in chemotherapy in 73 cases. Surgery alone was done in 7 cases and radiotherapy in 5. The event free survival rate at 130 months was 47.2% +/- 9% and the overall survival 66.8% +/- 7%. In conclusion, the distribution of cancer in the young infant is different of the older child. The diagnostic and therapeutic approach must take these characteristics into account