Wilms Tumor

Wilms tumor, known as well as nephroblastoma, is the most common primary malignant renal tumor in children. Over 95% of all renal tumors in patients under the age of 15 are Wilms tumors. The mean age at the time of diagnosis is 3.5 years. Wilms tumors are usually an incidental finding, a large abdominal mass discovered by a family member or pediatrician. Hematuria and hypertension can be present at the time of initial diagnosis. Up to 8% of the patients will have von Willebrand disease; therefore, all patients should have baseline coagulation studies. All patients should have either computed tomography of the abdomen and pelvis with oral and intravenous contrast or magnetic resonance imaging of the abdomen and pelvis with gadolinium. Treatment includes radical nephrectomy, chemotherapy, and, in some cases, radiotherapy. Emergency surgery is rarely. The disease-free survival rate is 86% for favorable-histology tumors and 64% for anaplastic tumors.