Wilms Tumor – Symptoms and Causes
Overview
Wilms tumor is a kidney cancer that primarily affects young children. Also called nephroblastoma, it is the most common type of kidney cancer found in children.
This condition typically appears between ages 3 and 4, becoming less frequent after age 5. However, it can develop in older children and occasionally adults.
Most cases of Wilms tumor affect just one kidney, but sometimes both kidneys can be involved simultaneously.
With proper medical care, most children with Wilms tumor have a positive outlook for recovery. Advances in diagnosis and treatment methods have contributed greatly to the improved prognosis for young patients facing this condition.
Signs and Symptoms
Wilms tumor can show many different symptoms. Some children may not show any signs at all. Others might have:
- A lump in the belly area that you can feel
- Swelling in the stomach region
- Stomach pain
Additional symptoms might include:
- Fever
- Urine with blood in it
- Anemia (low red blood cell count)
- High blood pressure
When to Contact a Doctor
If you notice any concerning symptoms in your child, schedule an appointment with their healthcare provider. While Wilms tumor is not common, it’s essential to have any worrying signs checked out.
Most likely, the symptoms are caused by something else, but getting proper medical attention is important for peace of mind and proper diagnosis.
Causes
The exact cause of Wilms tumor remains unclear. However, scientists believe it starts with DNA changes in kidney cells. These changes tell cells to grow and multiply quickly instead of following their normal life cycle.
While healthy cells die when they should, cells with DNA changes keep living and forming a tumor.
In rare cases, Wilms tumor may have a genetic link. Some children inherit DNA changes from their parents that increase their risk of developing this kidney cancer.
DNA mutations affect the instructions that control how cells behave. When these instructions are altered in kidney cells, the result can be the extra cell growth that forms Wilms tumor.
Risk Factors
Several things can increase a child’s risk of developing Wilms tumor. Racial differences play a role in risk distribution, with black children in North America and
Europe has slightly higher rates. Meanwhile, Asian-American children appear to have a lower risk than other racial groups.
Family history is also important. If someone in your family has had Wilms tumor, a child’s risk increases.
Several birth conditions are linked to a higher Wilms tumor risk, including:
- Aniridia – a condition where the iris (colored part of the eye) is partially or completely missing.
- Hemihypertrophy – when one side of the body or a body part grows larger than the other side.
Wilms tumor can also appear as part of rare genetic syndromes:
| Syndrome | Key Features |
|---|---|
| WAGR Syndrome | Involves Wilms tumor, aniridia, urinary/genital problems, and intellectual disabilities. |
| Denys-Drash Syndrome | Includes Wilms tumor, kidney disease, and male pseudohermaphroditism (where a boy’s genitals aren’t clearly male). |
| Beckwith-Wiedemann Syndrome | Characterized by larger-than-typical body size (macrosomia), stomach organs jutting into the umbilical cord base, large tongue, enlarged internal organs, and unusually formed ears. |
Prevention
There are no known ways to prevent Wilms tumor.
For children with certain risk conditions, doctors may recommend regular kidney ultrasounds. These screening tests can’t stop the tumor from developing, but they might help find it early when treatment is more effective.
However, most cases appear without any previous warning signs.
