Wilm’s Tumor

Synonyms

Nephroblastoma

Definition/Description

Wilm’s tumor (WT) is a cancerous tumor of the kidney seen in children. The term was originally coined by Dr. Ebenezer Gairdner in 1828, and the tumor was named after Max Wilms, who first described the tumor. Wilm’s tumor arises from the nephroblasts.

Background

Wilm’s tumor is the most common malignant renal tumor in children. The annual incidence is 7 cases per million children younger than 15 years of age, which translates to approximately 450 new cases in the USA annually. WT constitutes 6–7% of all childhood cancers in the USA. The peak incidence is between 3 and 4 years of age, with 75% of the cases occurring before the age of 5. WT affects both male and female children equally. The majority of children have a favorable histologic pattern and 4% have an unfavorable, anaplastic WT.

Wilm’s tumor may arise as a sporadic or hereditary tumor (often in children with specific genetic disorders). Most WTs are solitary lesions but may also be...