Wilms' tumor overview
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
|
Wilms' tumor Microchapters |
|
Diagnosis |
|---|
|
Treatment |
|
Case Studies |
|
Wilms' tumor overview On the Web |
|
American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Wilms' tumor overview |
Overview
Wilms' tumor or nephroblastoma is a tumor of the kidneys that typically occurs in children, rarely in adults. Its common name is an eponym, referring to Dr. Max Wilms, the German surgeon (1867-1918) who first described this kind of tumor.[1]
It is made up of blastemal, epithelial and mesenchymal components.
It is the fourth most commonly seen malignant tumor in children in the U. S.
Approximately 500 cases are diagnosed in the U.S. annually. The majority (75%) occur in otherwise normal children; a minority (25%) is associated with other developmental abnormalities. It is highly responsive to treatment, with about 90% of patients surviving at least five years.