Estudo de série de casos de tumores sólidos da infância e adolescência assistidos no município de Juiz de Fora – MG

Abstract

Objective: describe the demographic, social, and clinical characteristics of patients with solid tumors of childhood and adolescence, along with their vital status at the end of the study, based on data from medical files and hospital records. Method: retrospective, descriptive, observational study comprising patients within the 0-16 year age range, diagnosed with solid tumors, and followed in the municipality of Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil, from January 1997 to December 2006. Results: 231 patients with solid tumors were studied. There was an increasing occurrence during the period of study. Males were more often affected (56.7%). 39.9% of the cases occurred in the 0-4 year age range. 66.7% of the patients belonged to families with a per capita income lower than half the national minimum wage. The national health scheme (Sistema Único de Saúde – SUS) sponsored the treatment of 85.3% of the patients. 18.2% of the mothers were illiterate, and 50% of the patients were able to keep school attendance during treatment. Pain was the presenting symptom in 34.8%, followed by tumor perception in 27.8%. Histopathology or immunohistochemistry made the diagnosis in 90.5%. The morphological code was malignant in 83.2% and of low degree in 15.6%. Neoplastic disorders affecting the central nervous system were the most frequent tumors (31.6%). Staging revealed advanced disease in 66.7%. Watchful waiting with clinical control was the management strategy in 16.8%. Chemotherapy was the most frequently used strategy, being instituted in 41.8%. At the end of the study, 28.6% of the patients with metastases, 90% of stages I and II patients, and 61.2% of all patients were alive.