Question
What are the symptoms of pediatric Wilms tumor?
Answer
Wilms tumor in children is not as commonly associated with hematuria as renal embryonal tumors in adults. What often catches people’s attention first is a lump in the abdomen. Wilms tumors can occur at any part of the kidney, often compressing and deforming the renal pelvis. The clinical presentation of Wilms tumor is not complex but quite consistent. The tumor surface is smooth, moderately firm, and painless. It can extend beyond the midline in the upper quadrant of the abdomen, pushing abdominal organs to one side. In some cases, there may be anemia or urinary abnormalities. Occasionally, those with hematuria may also have hypertension.