25. Wilms tumor

Organ: Kidney

Wilms tumour prep

Description: A greyish, lobulated tumor with no well-defined border can be seen.

Diagnosis: Wilms tumor = nephroblastoma

Causes:

• Sporadic (majority)
• Genetic syndromes like WAGR syndrome, Denys-Drash syndrome

Theory:

Wilms tumor is the most common malignant kidney tumor in childhood, although it can occur in adulthood as well. The tumor is triphasic, meaning it has three different “parts” histologically:

1. Epithelial part
2. Stromal part
3. Blastema part

The blastema part is the most important clinically. A higher proportion of the blastema part compared to the other parts equals a poorer diagnosis. The greyish foci can be necrosis but it’s impossible to know for sure without histology.