Solid tumors in young children in Moscow Region of Russian Federation

Background. The aim of the study was to assess the main epidemiologic characteristics of solid tumours in young children. Methods. The data were retrieved from the Childhood Cancer Registry of Moscow Region, Russian Federation. Children aged 0-4 years with solid tumours diagnosed in 2000-2006 were included in the analysis. Results. The data on total 142 children with solid tumours were analyzed. The average number of annually registered cases was 5.9 +/- 1.1 in infants and 14 +/- 1.8 in older children with male-to-female ratio 1.1: 1 and 0.92:1, respectively. The average incidence rate (IR) of all solid tumours was 10.6 per 100.000 children/year in infants and 7.35 per 100.000 children/year in children 1-4 years old. The prevalent types of solid tumours in infants were hepatic ( IR 2.46) and renal ( IR 2.26) tumours. In children aged 1-4 years the following IRs for certain malignancies were found: CNS tumours 1.70, renal tumours 1.76, sympathetic nervous system tumours 1.73, retinoblastoma 0.87, soft tissue sarcomas 0.70, germ-cell tumours 0.19, hepatic tumours 0.14, and bone tumours 0.13. Conclusions. The lower IR of CNS tumours can be explained by under-reporting of this cancer type in Moscow region as a result of patient scattering through non-oncological hospitals. As compared to the data from cancer registries of the most European countries and US, lower IR of sympathetic nervous system tumours and retinoblastoma and higher IR of liver tumours and soft tissue sarcomas in infants were revealed in this study.