Survival in bilateral metachronous (asynchronous) Wilms tumors

The survival of patients with Wilms tumors has improved dramatically during the last few decades. In contrast, the bilateral form of the disease, especially when the tumors are not concurrent, is still considered by many to hold a much worse prognosis. A review of 50 cases reported during the last 20 years reveals that the survival of patients with metachronous Wilms tumors has improved in parallel with survival of patients with unilateral disease and, when matched for extent of tumor spread, survivals for the last decade are almost identical to those of bilateral synchronous disease and unilateral Wilms tumors.