Solid tumors in the neonatal period.

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Oncology
• Neonatal Medicine
• Cancer Research

Background:

• Solid tumors presenting in infancy are rare but can have severe outcomes.
• Understanding the differences in tumor types and prognoses between early-onset (neonatal) and later-onset infant tumors is crucial for effective management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the clinical features and prognosis of solid tumors diagnosed within the first 28 days of life versus those diagnosed after 28 days in infancy.
• To identify specific tumor types prevalent in each group and their associated survival rates.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective evaluation of 123 patients with solid tumors diagnosed between 1972 and 2000.
• Categorization of patients into two groups: diagnosed within the first 28 days (Group 1) and diagnosed after 28 days (Group 2).
• Analysis of tumor types, presenting symptoms, malignancy rates, and survival outcomes (overall and event-free survival).

Main Results:

• Group 1 (diagnosed within 28 days) had 55 patients, with 85.5% showing symptoms on day 1. Group 2 (diagnosed after 28 days) had 68 patients, with 77.9% showing symptoms on day 1.
• Common tumors included teratoma and neuroblastoma in both groups. Group 1 had 22 malignant tumors, while Group 2 had 44.
• Overall survival was significantly lower in Group 1 (24.9%) compared to Group 2 (51.6%) (p=0.015). Event-free survival was also worse in Group 1 (14.7%) versus Group 2 (47.7%) (p=0.0063).

Conclusions:

• Solid tumors diagnosed within the first 28 days of life carry a poorer prognosis than those diagnosed later in infancy.
• This study highlights the critical need for early detection and tailored treatment strategies for neonatal solid tumors.