[A century of progress in the knowledge and treatment of nephroblastoma]

Since its initial description by Max Wilms over a century ago, nephroblastoma has benefited from considerable improvements both in terms of basic knowledge about it and management of it. Today, the majority of these very young patients can expect a long-term survival in excess of 90% at the price of a light therapy that combines surgical resection, chemotherapy based on ill-toxic agents, and in selected cases, radiotherapy of remarkably low toxicity. The contribution of large international studies will be emphasized here.