What is Wilm's Tumor?

CT of normal kidneys. 

CT of child with Wilm's Tumor. 

Have you ever heard of Wilm's Tumor? Most of you will probably say "no." However as a nurse, especially if you will go into pediatrics, you will encounter this disease. Wilm’s Tumor is a rare form of pediatric kidney cancer. However, before delving into the details of kidneys when something has gone wrong, it is important to take a moment to understand the anatomy and the function of a healthy, normal kidney.

A basic overview: The kidneys are located in the upper portion of the abdomen. They sit on the left and right side of the body near the stomach, liver, and pancreas. The kidney has several important jobs. When kidneys function properly, they filter toxins and wastes out of the blood through a series of filtration processes. Additionally, they work with other systems in the body to regulate blood pressure. When kidneys do not function correctly, it sets off a cascade of issues throughout several important systems in the body… but more on that later!

Definition: Wilm's Tumor, also known as nephroblastoma, is a rare form of kidney cancer. Wilm's Tumor most commonly affects young children, usually those between the ages of three to four. Although any cancer diagnosis is devastating, especially when it involves a child, the positive outcomes from this disease are numerous. When diagnosed, it is usually only found in one of the two kidneys. Diagnosis of unilateral disease is good news. The body has two kidneys. However it is possible to survive with only one. Since pediatric cancer is rare, and thus there is no specific screening test to look for such diseases, it is common that the tumor will be quite large upon initial diagnosis. However, in most cases the disease is found and treated before metastasis (spread throughout the body) occurs. When determining the outlook of the disease, it is important to note that there are two types of tumor: that of favorable and that of unfavorable histology. Of the two types, the vast majority (90%) of the Wilm's Tumors are of favorable histology, which means treatment outcomes, on the whole, are very successful.

 Sources:
http://www.cancer.org/cancer/wilmstumor/detailedguide/wilms-tumor-what-is-wilms-tumor http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/wilms-tumor/basics/definition/con-20043492