A Clinical Study of Wilms' Tumor with Special Reference to the Cure Rate by Multimodality Treatment

ABSTRACT

Wilms' tumor is the most common intra-abdominal malignant tumor of childhood. There has been a progressive improvement in the over all survival rate of children with Wilms' tumor since the introduction of radiotherapy and nephrectomy. Survival has continued to improve with the addition of chemotherapy, initially actinomycin D, and later vincristine. This paper reviewed 34 patients with Wilms' tumor seen between 1965 and 1979 with special references to the significant factors in diagnosis as well as the influence of age, stage of disease and treatment on the prognosis. The usefulness of three modalities of treatment was discussed. A cure rate of 64.9% in the intensive multimodaliy treatment group was calculated by the Life Table Method.