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Wilms' tumor is a rare kidney cancer that primarily affects children. Also known as nephroblastoma, Wilms' tumor is the most common cancer of the kidneys in children. Wilms' tumor most often affects children ages 3 to 4 and becomes much less common after age 5.
Wilms' tumor most often occurs in just one kidney, though it can sometimes be found in both kidneys at the same time.
Improvements in the diagnosis and treatment of Wilms' tumor have improved the prognosis for children with this disease. The outlook for most children with Wilms' tumor is very good.
Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com
Wilms' tumor doesn't always cause signs and symptoms. Children with Wilms' tumor may appear healthy, or they may experience:
Make an appointment with your child's doctor if you notice any signs or symptoms that worry you. The signs and symptoms associated with Wilms' tumor aren't specific to the condition and are much more likely to be caused by something else.
Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com
It's not clear what causes Wilms' tumor.
Doctors know that cancer begins when cells develop errors in their DNA. The errors allow the cells to grow and divide uncontrollably and to go on living when other cells would die. The accumulating cells form a tumor. In Wilms' tumor, this process occurs in the kidney cells.
In a small number of cases, the errors in DNA that lead to Wilms' tumor are passed from parents to children. In most cases, there is no known connection between parents and children that may lead to cancer.
Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com
At Mayo Clinic, we take the time to listen, to find answers and to provide you the best care.
To diagnose Wilms' tumor, your child's doctor may recommend:
Once your child's doctor has diagnosed Wilms' tumor, he or she works to determine the extent (stage) of the cancer. Your child's doctor may recommend a chest X-ray, chest CT scan and bone scan to determine whether the cancer has spread beyond the kidneys.
The doctor assigns your child's cancer a stage, which helps determine the treatment options. The stages of Wilms' tumor are:
Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com
Wilms' tumor can't be prevented by anything you or your child can do.
If your child has signs and symptoms that increase the risk of Wilms' tumor, your child's doctor may recommend periodic kidney ultrasounds to look for kidney abnormalities. While this screening can't prevent Wilms' tumor, it may help detect the disease at an early stage, when treatment is most likely to be successful.
Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com
Here are some suggestions to help you guide your family through cancer treatment:
Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com
Factors that may increase the risk of Wilms' tumor include:
Wilms' tumor occurs more frequently in children with certain abnormalities present at birth, including:
Wilms' tumor can occur as part of rare syndromes, including:
Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com
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