Wilms tumor in adolescence.
A review of the literature reveals that Wilms tumor is rare in adolescence. At the time of diagnosis 78 per cent of children are less than 5 years old. Of 17 cases of Wilms tumor seen at the Ontario Cancer Foundation Clinic in Kingston from 1973 to 1975, 3 children were between 16 and 17 years old. Of 316 cases registered in Ontario with the Ontario Cancer Treatment and Research Foundation only 5 were in the 15 to 19-year age group. The possibility of Wilms tumor in patients beyond the usual age group is not considered as a differential diagnosis because of its relative rarity. Patients may present with features suggestive of neuroblastoma, renal cell carcinoma, hydronephrosis, cholecystitis, appendicitis and twisted ovarian cyst as seen in our 3 patients. In comparison, a review of 84 reported cases of renal cell carcinoma in children from 1934 to 1974 showed 5 cases in the 15 to 18-year age group.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D009392:Nephrectomy; D009396:Wilms Tumor / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery