Wilms tumors. Diagnosis and therapy
Graf, N.; Reinhard, H.
Der Urologe. Ausg. a 42(3): W391
2003
ISSN/ISBN: 0340-2592 PMID: 12723542 Document Number: 563752
Nephroblastoma is the most common, malignant kidney tumor in children. It is most prevalent between the ages of 2-3 years and is usually recognised as a painless swelling. The primary diagnosis is made visually via ultrasonography, CT and/or MRT. After preoperative chemotherapy, the tumor is surgically removed. A primary operation should only be carried out in the case of an unclear, visual diagnosis for children under 6 months or over 16 years. Both an histological and a molecular genetic analysis of the tumor are necessary. The use of chemotherapy, surgery and less often radiotherapy leads to a 90% survival rate. The in vivo response to preoperative chemotherapy can, as with all malignant tumors, be used as a prognostic parameter. A suitable measure is the tumor volume after chemotherapy. If there is a recurrence after treatment, it almost invariably occurs within 2 years. As a consequence of the administration of nephrotoxic and cardiotoxic drugs for tumor-based nephrectomy, as well as radiotherapy, possible delayed effects should be taken into account. The likelihood of a second malignancy is about 1%.