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Title: Late orthopedic effects in children with Wilms' tumor treated with abdominal irradiation

Journal Article · · Medical and Pediatric Oncology; (United States)
; ; ;  [1]
  1. Univ. of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia (USA)

Between 1970 and 1984, 31 children with biopsy-proven Wilms' tumor received nephrectomy, chemotherapy, and abdominal irradiation and were followed beyond skeletal maturity. Three patients (10%) developed late orthopedic abnormalities requiring intervention. Ten children received orthovoltage irradiation, and all cases requiring orthopedic intervention or developing a scoliotic curve of greater than 20 degrees were confined to this group, for a complication frequency of 50%. Those children who developed a significant late orthopedic abnormality (SLOA) as defined were treated to a higher median dose (2,890 cGy) and a larger field size (150 cm2) than those who did not (2,580 cGy and 120 cm2). Age at irradiation, sex, and initial stage of disease did not appear to influence the risk of developing an SLOA. No child who received megavoltage irradiation developed an SLOA despite treatment up to 4,000 cGy or to field sizes of 400 cm2. We conclude that modern radiotherapy techniques rarely lead to significant late orthopedic abnormalities previously associated with abdominal irradiation in children with Wilms' tumor.

OSTI ID:
5321386
Journal Information:
Medical and Pediatric Oncology; (United States), Vol. 19:4; ISSN 0098-1532
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English