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Wilms tumor
Etiology

Evidence is strong for a genetic/developmental etiology.
Pathogenesis

The tumor may arise as a result of failure of blastemal tissue to differentiate into normal renal structures.,
Epidemiology

Occurs in children, usually under age 5.
Peak incidence between ages 1 and 3.
Occurs in approximately 7 in a million children per year in the U.S.
Occurs as part of WARG syndrome (Wilms tumor, aniridia, retardation, genital abnormalities).
Occurs as part of Denys-Drash syndrome (gonadal dysgenesis and nephropathy leading to renal failure).
Occurs as part of Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome (organomegaly, hemihypertrophy, renal cysts, adrenal cytomegaly).
General Gross Description

At the time of detection, Wilms tumors are usually large and dwarfs the native kidney.
The cut surface is usually soft, fleshy and brain-like.
Irregular areas of hemorrhage and necrosis may be present.
•Examples:
Wilms tumor Wilms tumor Wilms Tumor Treated Wilms tumor Wilms tumor Wilms Tumor/Renal Blastema Wilms tumor Wilms tumor Wilms tumor
General Microscopic Description

The classic Wilms tumor is triphasic showing areas that are blastemal (non-descript undifferentiated small round cells), areas that show epithelial differentiation (tubules, glomeruloid structures) and areas that show stromal differentiation (spindle shaped cells, skeletal muscle).
Mitotic figures are usually plentiful.
•Examples:
Wilms Tumor Wilms Tumor Wilms Tumor Wilms Tumor Wilms Tumor
References

Cotran RS, Kumar V, Robbins SL: Robbins Pathologic Basis of Disease. 5th ed. Philadelphia, W.B. Saunders, 1994, pp. 462-464.

For Most Current Information Search Medline at National Library of Medicine
This link will directly take you to the relevant new literature
Wilms tumor
Synopsis by: Harold Yamase M.D. (T71000M89603)[198]
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