A series of 8 cystic renal tumours is reported in seven-months to four
-years-old children. The final diagnosis was cystic nephroma (multiloc
ular cyst) in 4, cystic, partially differentiated nephroblastoma in 3
and partially cystic nephroblastoma in one. Pre-operative distinction
between those three types is difficult and inadequate therapeutic appr
oach may result from a wrong diagnosis. Progress in imaging techniques
allows a better analysis of cysts and septa. If no solid part can be
detected in the tumour, total nephrectomy is sufficient to obtain a fa
vourable outcome.