Nephroblastoma (Wilms' tumour) diagnosed in the Department of Anatomical Pathology Medunsa/Ga-Rankuwa Hospital for the period 1980 to 1997.

Objective: The aim of the analysis was to describe the clinicopathological features of Wilms' Tumour (WT) diagnosed in our Department and compare results to other WT Registers.

Design: All cases of WT for the period 1980 to 1997 were retrieved from the Register of Renal Tumours of Childhood.

Setting: The Medical University of Southern Africa, Department of Anatomical Pathology and Department of Paediatrics, Ga-Rankuwa Hospital.

Subjects: A total of 171 cases of WT (97% of all renal tumours) were the subject of the analysis.

Results: The age of the patients ranged from four to 216 months. The two sexes were represented equally. Tumours were solid in 73.9%, cystic in 20% and mixed in 6.1%. There were as many tumours involving the right kidney as those involving the left kidney. In nine cases WT was bilateral. Only 2.4% of tumours were in stage I and II. The mass of the kidney with tumour ranged from 50 g to 5,400 g and in diameter from three to 28 cm. Histopathologically classic, blastemal and stromal type were nearly equally represented. Follow up was very inadequate and in 66% of cases the fate of the patient remains unknown.

Conclusion: Occurrence of WT is similar to that reported from other regions of the world. Cases are in a more advanced stage than reported by SIOP and NWTS. Follow up is highly inadequate.