children s health issues
Wilms Tumor
Diagnosis of Wilms Tumor
Ultrasonography, computed tomography (CT), or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the abdomen Often surgery to remove the tumor at the time of diagnosis Wilms tumor is most often detected when parents notice a lump in the child’s abdomen and take their child to a doctor. Or a doctor may feel such a lump during a routine examination. If the doctor suspects Wilms tumor, several imaging tests are done. Ultrasonography of the abdomen is done to determine the nature and size of the lump. Computed Tomography (CT) or The doctor also does CT of the chest to determine whether tumors have spread to the lungs. Surgery to remove part or all of the kidney (nephrectomy) that contains the tumor is done in most children based on the results of the imaging tests. Doctors then analyze the tumor to confirm that it is a Wilms tumor. During surgery, doctors also remove nearby lymph nodes in the abdomen and analyze them for cancer cells. Cancer that has spread to the lymph nodes may require different treatment than cancer that has not. 