Wilms' tumor is a disease in which cancer
(malignant) cells are found in certain parts of the kidney. The kidneys
are a "matched" pair of organs found on either side of the
backbone. The kidneys are shaped like a kidney bean. Inside each kidney
are tiny tubes that filter and clean the blood, taking out unneeded
products, and making urine. The urine made by the kidneys passes through a
tube called a ureter into the bladder where it is held until it is passed
from the body.
Wilms' tumor is curable in the majority of affected
children. If your child has symptoms, your child's doctor will usually
feel your child's abdomen for lumps and run blood and urine tests. The
doctor may order a special x-ray called an intravenous pyelogram. During
this test, a dye containing iodine is injected into your child's
bloodstream. This allows your child's doctor to see the kidney more
clearly on the x-ray. Your child's doctor may also do an ultrasound, which
uses sound waves to make a picture, or a special x-ray called a computed
tomographic scan to look for lumps in the kidney. A special scan called
magnetic resonance imaging, which uses magnetic waves to make a picture,
may also be done. Chest and bone x-rays may also be taken.
If tissue that is not normal is found, your child's
doctor will need to cut out a small piece and look at it under the
microscope to see if there are any cancer cells. This is called a biopsy.
Your child's chance of recovery (prognosis) and
choice of treatment depend on the stage of your child's cancer (whether it
is just in the kidney or has spread to other places in the body), how the
cancer cells look under a microscope (histology), tumor size, and your
child's age and general health.
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