Kidney Tumors in Children
Kidney tumors account for approximately 7 percent of childhood cancers. They occur when cancer cells develop in the tissues of the kidney.
Types of Kidney Tumors:
There are several types of kidney tumors that can occur in children. Wilms tumor (nephroblastoma) is one of the most common types of kidney tumor in childhood. Wilms tumor, also known as nephroblastoma, is the most common kidney cancer in children. Approximately 500 children in the United States are diagnosed with Wilms tumor each year. This tumor most commonly occurs in children under 5 years of age. Renal cell carcinoma is the most common kidney tumor in adolescents between 15 and 19 years of age.
Other kidney tumors include:
- Clear cell sarcoma of the kidney
- Malignant rhabdoid tumor
- Mesoblastic nephroma
Sometimes, cancer may have already spread to other parts of the body before it is diagnosed. This depends on the type of tumor your child has. For example, Wilms tumor rarely spreads to the brain, but it can spread to the lungs.
Common Signs and Symptoms of Kidney Tumors (Wilms Tumor) Include:
- A palpable mass in the abdomen
- Blood in the urine
- Abdominal pain
- High blood pressure
- Fever
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss
- Constipation
- Fatigue
- Vomiting
Treatment of Wilms Tumor
If a child is suspected of having Wilms tumor, surgery is usually performed. Treatment of Wilms tumor may include a combination of chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery. If only one kidney is affected, the entire kidney is often removed. People can live normal and healthy lives with only one kidney.
If the kidney tumor cannot be removed at the time of diagnosis or if tumors are present in both kidneys, the child may receive chemotherapy before surgery.
If your child has Wilms tumor in both kidneys, it may be possible to remove only part of each kidney. Additional chemotherapy is usually given after surgery.
Depending on the child's condition, treatment may also include radiation therapy.
Prognosis of Wilms Tumor
Overall, Wilms tumor is a treatable disease. The five-year survival rate for patients with Wilms tumor without metastasis (spread of the tumor) is approximately 90 percent.
Prognosis depends on the following factors:
- The stage of the cancer at diagnosis
- The pathology (how the cells look under a microscope) and molecular characteristics of the tumor; the cells may be classified as favorable or unfavorable
- Genetic factors and molecular markers of the tumor
- Whether the cancer has relapsed or is being treated for the first time
Your child's doctor is the best source of information about your child's individual condition and treatment.
Pediatric Hematologist & Oncologist
