Factors of Nephroblastomas’ Relapse in Children at the Academic Hospital Gabriel Toure, Bamako, Mali

Abstract

Introduction: The factors of nephroblastomas' relapse are a set of elements playing a role in the reappearance of cancer cells in the same place of the kidney or in other regions of the body after a 5-year remission. Objectives: To determine the frequency and the factors of nephroblastomas' relapse in the pediatric oncology unit and pediatric surgery of the academic hospital Gabriel Touré. Materials and methods: This was a retrospective study carried out from January 1, 2005 to December 31, 2019 in all children treated for nephroblastoma relapses in the pediatric oncology unit and in the pediatric surgery service. Results: In 15 years, we have managed 182 cases of nephroblastoma, of which 128 cases were declared in complete remission after 5 years and 12 cases presented a recurrence. The relapses factors were: capsular break, intraoperative tumor rupture, presence of an associated malformation, surgery without neoadjuvant chemotherapy and tumor surgical stage (p < 0.05). Patients' age at diagnosis, sex, number of neoadjuvant and adjuvant chemotherapy sessions and histological type were not decisive (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Relapses are more and more frequent in cases of nephroblastoma. The correct use of the protocol would avoid these recurrences.