Evaluation of solid tumors in the first year of life: A single-center 30-year experience

Aim: The diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of infantile tumors are of special importance among all pediatric malignancies. Here in this study, we aimed to evaluate the demographic, clinical, pathological, and surgical properties of infantile tumors followed by our department. Material and Methods: We evaluated 78 cases of infantile tumors <12 months of age who were registered in Gazi University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pediatric Oncology between 1991-2021. Results: Infantile tumors account for 6.8% of all pediatric malignancies followed by our department. There were 38 girls and 40 boys whose mean age was 186.60 +/- 110 days (8 -350 days). Nine of our patients were diagnosed during the neonatal period. The most common tumor was neuroblastoma in 24 patients (30.7%) while the second most common tumor was central system tumor in 13 cases (16.6%). Other tumors included 10 mature/ immature teratomas, 8 renal tumors (10.2%), 6 retinoblastomas (7.6%), 6 liver tumors (7.6%) and soft tissue sarcoma in 6 patients, yolk sac tumors (3.8%), and Langerhans cell histiocytosis (2.5%). Fifty-one patients (65.3%) received chemotherapy, 19.4% received radiotherapy and 86.6% had surgical resection for treatment modalities. Total surgical resection has been applied to 67.2% of patients. Relapses were observed in 23 patients (29.4%), most commonly at the site of the primary tumor. Forty-four patients are alive without disease, 9 patients were lost to follow-up, and 25 patients died. The follow-up period of the patients ranged from 4 months to15 years. Overall survival was 67% and event-free survival was 58%. Discussion: In our study, neuroblastoma was the most common solid tumor seen in the infantile period, consistent with the literature. With intensive treatment modalities and awareness of treatment-related toxicities for solid tumors of the infantile period, long-term survival can be achieved.