Modified Radical Nephrectomy for Treatment of Pediatric Unilateral
Wilms' Tumor-A proposed procedure with feasibility and reasonability
Abstract
Background: The surgical management of pediatric unilateral
Wilms’ tumor (uWT) remains a subject of ongoing debate, particularly
regarding the criteria for lymph node (LN) sampling. To address this, we
implemented a modified radical nephrectomy (MRN) technique,
incorporating ipsilateral perivascular lymph node dissection following
nephrectomy to optimize the surgical approach. This study evaluates the
safety and feasibility of MRN in the treatment of uWT. Methods:
We retrospectively analysis of 105 uWT cases treated with MRN between
January 2016 and June 2023. Clinical characteristics, treatment
regimens, and patient outcomes were assessed. Results: All 105
patients underwent MRN successfully. Of these, 48 had upfront surgery,
while 57 received neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Following nephrectomy,
regional LN dissection was performed, with a median of 9 nodes removed.
Lymph node metastasis was identified in 6 patients (5.7%). Tumor
spillage occurred in 6 cases, predominantly during upfront surgery.
Surgical complications were noted in 6 patients, all of which were
managed conservatively. Recurrence was observed in 8 patients, including
two local recurrences. The 3-year event-free survival and overall
survival rates were 91.3% and 95.6%, respectively.
Conclusion: The MRN technique demonstrated both safety and
feasibility in the surgical treatment of pediatric uWT, with manageable
postoperative complications. The findings suggest that MRN provides
enhanced access for surgeons and facilitates more accurate staging,
beyond the goal of simply removing the recommended number of LNs. This
approach may improve both staging accuracy and long-term outcomes in
pediatric uWT.