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Wilms tumor - Symptom

Alternative Names

Nephroblastoma; Kidney tumor

Symptoms:

Abdominal pain
Constipation
Fever
General discomfort or uneasiness (malaise)
High blood pressure
Increased growth on only one side of the body
Loss of appetite
Nausea
Swelling in the abdomen (abdominal hernia or mass)
Vomiting

Note: Abnormal urine color may also be associated with this disease.

Signs and tests:

Special emphasis is placed on the history and physical exam. The doctor may ask if you have a family history of cancer and look for associated birth defects in the child.

A physical examination reveals an abdominal mass. High blood pressure may also be present.

Blood in the urine occurs in less than 25% of children.

Tests include:

Other tests may be required to determine if the tumor has spread.

Kidney anatomy

Wilms tumor

Reviewed last on: 6/7/2010
Neil K. Kaneshiro, MD, MHA, Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine; Yi-Bin Chen, MD, Leukemia/Bone Marrow Transplant Program, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Kim S, Chung DH. Pediatric solid malignancies: neuroblastoma and Wilms' tumor. Surg Clin North Am. 2006;86(2):469-487.

Jaffe N, Huff V. Neoplasms of the kidney. In: Kliegman RM, Behrman RE, Jenson HB, Stanton BF, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 18th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 499.

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