Mildenberger H
Kinderchirurgische Abteilung, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover.
Langenbecks Arch Chir Suppl Kongressbd. 1996;113:76-9.
Pre- and/or postoperative chemotherapy is highly effective in the treatment of pediatric malignancies and has modified surgical strategies significantly. (1) In childhood abdominal Non-Hodgkin-Lymphomas early chemotherapy has a definite priority over extended excisions. (2) In hepatoblastomas, radical excision is essential for effecting a cure. However, in the case of an advanced tumor, it is wise to start treatment with chemotherapy and then to perform surgery. (3) Pre-operative chemotherapy in Wilms' tumors effects a "down staging", which allows therapy reduction and omission of postoperative radiotherapy in the majority of cases.