What Are The Symptoms, Causes And Remedies Of Wilms’ Tumor?

Wilms' Tumor, which arises from the kidney, is the most commonly occurring malignant growth of childhood.

Frequently the first signs noticed are an enlargement of the abdomen. Pain, hematuria and suppression of urine together with general malaise, anaemia and failure to thrive occur rather later and these children do in fact remain surprisingly well for a long time despite the great malignancy of the condition and its tendency to form metastases in other parts of the body, particularly the lungs. The tumour, is as a rule, unilateral.

Treatment should be started without any delay. A minimum of palpation for diagnostic purposes is there as there is a danger of dispersing the tumour cells into the renal vein and so encourage spreading. An intravenous pyelogram or body scan will reveal distortion of the renal pelvis and displacement of the kidney. A radiograph of the chest should be taken to ensure that there is no secondary spread of the tumour to the lungs. Operation to remove the affected kidney should be performed as soon as possible. Blood transfusion is usually required during operation. Radiography combined with cytotoxic drugs is ordered post operatively, reducing the risk of metastases. With prompt treatment the prognosis is usually good.

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