[The diagnostic and prognostic characteristics of nephroblastoma recurrences in children]

A total of 450 children with nephroblastoma were treated in the children's oncological department of the All-Union Cancer Research Centre, the USSR Academy of Medical Sciences, between 1976 and 1986. Tumour relapses were diagnosed during various terms of postsurgery in 131 (29.1 per cent) of them: true relapses in 58 (44.1); retroperitoneal lymph nodal metastases in 56 (42.7 per cent) and the both patterns in 17 (13.2 per cent) patients. The majority of the children were older than 3 years. The initial and the most common manifestations of nephroblastoma relapses were the following symptoms: weakness and diminished appetite (93.1 per cent) pale skin (78.6 per cent), abdominal pains (77 per cent), enlarged abdomen (73 per cent), a palpable tumour (82.4 per cent), neurological symptomatology: defecation and urination disorders (12.9 per cent), pareses and paralyses of lower extremities (6.8 per cent). Timely usage of diagnostic complex measures (palpation under the control of myorelaxants, ultrasonic and computed tomography, angiography) enables one to diagnose nephroblastoma relapses. Such histological patterns of nephroblastoma as nondifferentiated blastema, sarcomatoid and rhabdoid tumours were considered as prognostically unfavourable ones. More relapses were diagnosed in children over 4 years. Some cases of nephroblastoma relapses are also caused by the operative technique (lumbar incision in nephrectomy) and extension of the tumour (into the adjacent organs and tissues--Stage II disease). Pre- of intraoperative ruptures of tumour capsules is a principal factor contributing to relapses. Radiation and chemotherapy are found to be mandatory for the prevention of the ruptures.