Radical partial renal irradiation. an alternative to partial nephrectomy in bilateral Wilms' tumor

A 6-year-old girl with simultaneous bilateral Wilms' tumor was treated with a radical nephrectomy on the side of more extensive involvement, followed by postoperative renal bed irradiation (3500 rads over 32 days) and radical partial renal irradiation (4000 rads over 35 days) to the contralateral disease. Concurrent and subsequent adjuvant actinomycin-D and vincristine were given. She has remained disease-free for over 5 years after primary therapy, with satisfactory renal function. This case report suggest that radical partial renal irradiation may be an alternative to partial nephrectomy in the management of the lesser involved kidney in some patients with bilateral Wilms' tumor.