Wilms' tumor in New York State: epidemiology and survivorship.

The outcomes during the period 1950--1972 were compared for Wilms' tumor patients in Erie County, New York (Buffalo and environs) and in a random selection of 23 counties having much smaller populations. For the Erie cohorts of 1967 to 1972 an 87 per cent 7-year survival rate was found as compared with a 50 per cent survival for the corresponding cohorts of the less populous couties. For the years 1960--1966 the 5-year survival rates were respectively 67 and 25 per cent and for the decade 1950--1959, 26 and 23 per cent. The principal conclusion is that within the last 15 years the Erie residents have fared better than residents of the smaller counties. The difference is attributed to the better treatment and care available at some of the hospitals in Buffalo. Data on incidence, age at diagnosis, male/female ratio, and laterality are presented.