Renal cell carcinoma in children: the Detroit experience

Abstract

Purpose: We analyzed the presentation, treatment and survival of 6 children with renal cell carcinoma.

Materials and methods: We retrospectively reviewed the pathological and hospital records of 6 children diagnosed with renal cell carcinoma at Children's Hospital of Michigan (5) and Henry Ford Hospital (1) from 1980 to 1995.

Results: The most common presenting complaints were flank pain (50%) and a palpable abdominal mass (50%), while gross hematuria was present in only 1 patient (16%). No patient had the classic triad of flank pain, hematuria and palpable mass. Only 1 patient had localized disease (stage II), while 5 of the 6 presented with stage III or IV disease. While followup is limited, all patients with stage III disease are without evidence of recurrence at a mean 38.5 months and 1 of 2 with stage IV disease is without evidence of disease at 22 months.

Conclusions: Although renal cell carcinoma in childhood often presents at an advanced stage, the prognosis for those with isolated regional lymph node involvement appears to be encouraging.