Introduction:

There is little research on risk factors of pediatric renal tumors.

Objective:

To characterize in detail the geographic regions of greatest incidence of pediatric renal tumors in central Argentina and exploring their possible link to genetic risk factors.

Methods:

The study area comprised the province of Córdoba (Argentina), and a database of pediatric renal tumors incidence was generated with information from the Provincial Tumor Registry. Analyses of spatio-temporal clusters were performed. In-depth interviews with key informants were carried out at localities within the conglomerates.

Results:

56 cases of pediatric renal tumors were registered in the Provincial Registry of Tumors between 2004 and 2013. A significant spatial conglomerate was detected, covering seven districts of the province. In that region, six in-depth interviews were conducted with key informants. Interviewees highlighted the increased frequency of Sandhoff genetic disease and endogamous practices (corroborated in numerous scientific results). From these data, zones of overlap of renal tumors and of Sandhoff disease were determined.

Conclusions:

A particular region of the province was detected with high frequency of pediatric renal tumors and Sandhoff disease. Numerous scientific studies have determined that endogamy is the risk factor that increases the frequency of Sandhoff disease in this region. In future research, it should be confirmed whether it also acts by increasing the incidence of renal tumors in children.

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