Wilms' tumor, also called nephroblastoma, is a rare type of cancer that affects children between 2 and 5 years old, being more frequent at 3 years old. This type of tumor is characterized by the involvement of one or both kidneys and can be noticed by the appearance of a hard mass in the abdomen.
This type of tumor usually develops without symptoms, being diagnosed when it is already in more advanced stages. Despite being diagnosed when it is already very large, there is treatment and the survival rate varies according to the stage at which the tumor was identified, with a chance of cure.
Main symptoms
Wilms' tumor can develop without symptoms, however, it is common to see a palpable mass that does not cause pain in the child's abdomen, and it is important that parents take the child to the pediatrician to have them done. diagnostic tests.
Other symptoms that can happen due to this condition are:
- Loss of appetite; Abdominal bloating; Fever; Nausea or vomiting; Presence of blood in the urine; Increased blood pressure; Change in respiratory rate.
Wilms' tumor most often affects one of the kidneys, however, there may also be involvement of both or even other organs of the child, worsening the clinical condition and leading to more serious symptoms, such as eye bleeding, consciousness and difficulty in breathing.
Possible causes
The causes of Wilms' tumor are not well defined, it is not clear whether there are inherited influences and whether environmental factors such as the mother's exposure to chemicals during pregnancy cause this type of tumor. However, some types of syndromes are related to the occurrence of Wilms' tumor, such as Fraiser syndrome, Perlman syndrome, Beckwith-Wiedemanne syndrome and Li-Fraumeni syndrome.
Some of these syndromes are linked to genetic changes and mutations and have a specific gene, called WT1 and WT2, and this can lead to the appearance of Wilms' tumor.
In addition, children who were born with a congenital problem are more at risk of having this type of tumor, such as children with cryptoquirdia, which is when the testicle does not descend. Find out more about how the treatment for cryptocurrency is done.
How the diagnosis is made
The initial diagnosis is made by palpating the abdomen in order to check the abdominal mass, in addition to assessing the symptoms presented by the child. Usually the pediatrician requests imaging tests, such as ultrasound, ultrasound, computed tomography and magnetic resonance, to check for the presence of the tumor.
Although it can develop quickly and silently, the tumor is usually identified before other organs are involved.
Treatment options
Wills' tumor is curable through appropriate treatment, which consists of removing the compromised kidney, followed by complementary treatment, which is done with chemotherapy and radiation therapy. During surgery, the doctor must analyze the other organs in order to identify any other changes and check for metastases, which is when the tumor spreads to other parts of the body.
In the case of impairment of both kidneys, chemotherapy is performed before surgery so that there is more chance that at least one of the kidneys will function correctly, without there being so much impairment. See more about what chemotherapy is and how it is done.
