[Status of the pediatric oncohematologic service in Russia]

In spite of the fact that official statistical data show lower cancer morbidity of pediatric population in Russia than in Europe and USA (9.7 against 13.8 and 13.6, respectively), real cancer incidence may be close to mean incidence in Europe and USA as in Moscow it is 14.8 in boys and 12.0 in girls. Lower numbers in some other regions may be attributable to low standards of cancer diagnosis and inadequate case registration. In Moscow where standards of children's hematological service are high the proportion of some malignancies is the following: hemoblastoses-48.5%, CNS tumors-19.8%, neuroblastoma-8.0%, renal tumors-6.5%, sarcomas of soft tissues and bones-2.4 and 4.6%, respectively. The efficacy of anticancer treatment of children in many regions of Russia is poor, but the situation may be changed for the best by introduction of new approaches developed in the Moscow Research Institute of Pediatric Hematology.