title: Wilms' tumour presenting as a pulmonary embolism.
abstract: Wilms' tumour (nephroblastoma) is one of the most common solid malignant tumours in infancy and childhood. In about 40% of cases, invasion of the renal vein is present. Rarely, these tumours extend into the inferior vena cava and right atrium. We discuss a 7-week-old girl who presented with acute massive pulmonary embolism, and was found to have a large tumour of the left kidney. Later on, the diagnosis of Wilms' tumour was confirmed. Wilms' tumour presenting as massive pulmonary embolism is extremely rare; to our knowledge this is the fourth case described in literature. We review the cases previously described, and comment on the diagnostic and therapeutic features of this clinical entity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, University Hospital, Gent University Medical School, Belgium.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ceelen
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kerremans
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lutz-Dettinger
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vandenbroeck
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: de Hemptinne
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000209:etiology*; D009396:Wilms Tumor / Q000150:complications*