Wilms Tumor, Nephroblastoma Kidney Cancer Causes Abdominal Mass Symptom

Wilms tumor, aka nephroblastoma, is a rare form of kidney cancer that almost exclusively occurs in young children. This childhood cancer is often discovered fairly early because the cancer grows into a palpable abdominal mass, known as the Wilms’ tumor.

Nephroblastoma typically affects children under age 6 who are otherwise healthy. However, about a fourth of the children developing this type of kidney cancer have other associated abnormalities.

Wilms’ tumor may grow fairly large and you may first notice a firm, rounded mass on your child’s abdomen without much indication of other symptoms. Or your child may exhibit some additional symptoms, like:

Nephroblastoma usually causes cancer in only one kidney and is frequently caught before it goes to far.

Standard treatment involves surgical removal of the Wilms tumor. And radiation therapy and chemotherapy may ensue afterwards.