[Solid malignant neoplasms in the first year of life]

Abstract

Background: Solid malignant tumors occurring during the first year of life are rare. In Mexico, cancer is the tenth leading cause of mortality in this age group. However there is insufficient information about the characteristics of these children. This report aims to present our experience in a single hospital.

Patients and methods: A retrospective study was carried out in all patients diagnosed with solid malignant tumors during the first year of life who were treated in our institution during the previous 5 years. The variables analyzed were age at diagnosis, sex, birth weight, congenital malformations, time since onset of presenting features, type of neoplasm, treatment modalities, overall survival and sequelae.

Results: We analyzed 45 patients; the mean age at diagnosis was 150 days and the time since onset of presenting features ranged from 1-180 days. The most frequent tumors found were neuroblastoma (31%), nephroblastoma (13%) and retinoblastoma (13%). Two thirds of the patients presented with advanced stages. Complete tumoral resection was achieved in 55% of the patients, chemotherapy was administered in 80% and radiotherapy in only 2%. Complications after treatment were observed in 24% of the patients. The overall survival was 81% at 66 months of follow-up.

Conclusions: Because cancer is rare in this age group and most of the patients had advanced disease at diagnosis, pediatricians should be more aware of these tumors to increase their early detection. In addition, multicenter studies should be performed to develop better treatment protocols that would improve prognosis and quality of life in these patients.