American Journal of Medical Case Reports
ISSN (Print): 2374-2151 ISSN (Online): 2374-216X Website: https://www.sciepub.com/journal/ajmcr Editor-in-chief: Apply for this position
Open Access
Journal Browser
Go
American Journal of Medical Case Reports. 2025, 13(10), 59-62
DOI: 10.12691/ajmcr-13-10-1
Open AccessCase Report

Bilateral Wilms’ Tumor: Challenges in Pediatric Nephron-Sparing Strategies and Multimodal Management

Salma Alhajj Qasem1, , Adil A. A. Alsweis1, Samer Bustame2 and Amna Akkawi3

1Department of Medicine, An-Najah National University, PO Box 7, Nablus, West Bank, Palestine

2Pediatric Surgery, An-Najah National University Hospital, Nablus, West Bank, Palestine

3An-Najah National University Hospital, Asira Street, Nablus, West Bank, Palestine

Pub. Date: November 02, 2025

Cite this paper:
Salma Alhajj Qasem, Adil A. A. Alsweis, Samer Bustame and Amna Akkawi. Bilateral Wilms’ Tumor: Challenges in Pediatric Nephron-Sparing Strategies and Multimodal Management. American Journal of Medical Case Reports. 2025; 13(10):59-62. doi: 10.12691/ajmcr-13-10-1

Abstract

Abstract Wilms' tumor, or nephroblastoma, is a rare pediatric kidney cancer that poses significant challenges, particularly in bilateral cases where preserving kidney function is critical. A 3-year-old girl presented with tumors in both kidneys, detected via ultrasonography and further evaluated with computed tomography (CT), revealing masses measuring 9.5 × 10 × 11 cm in the right kidney and 10 × 11 × 13.5 cm in the left. After ten weeks of chemotherapy with vincristine, dactinomycin, and doxorubicin, she underwent laparoscopic partial nephrectomy of the left kidney and excision of three tumors from the right-—histopathological analysis confirmed stage 5 intermediate-risk Wilms' tumor. Postoperatively, systemic adjuvant chemotherapy was administered, and routine follow-up evaluations confirmed no tumor recurrence and stable kidney function. This case underscores the complexity of treating bilateral Wilms' tumor and highlights the need for a delicate balance between aggressive oncologic treatment and the preservation of essential organ function.

Keywords:
Wilms’ tumor Nephron-sparing surgery (NSS) Pediatric nephrectomy

Creative CommonsThis work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

References:

[1]  Xie W, Wei L, Guo J, et al.: Physiological functions of Wilms' tumor 1-associating protein and its role in tumourigenesis. J Cell Biochem. 2019, 120: 10884-92. 10.1002/jcb.28402.
 
[2]  Stiller CA, Allen MB, Eatock EM: Childhood cancer in Britain: the National Registry of Childhood Tumours and incidence rates 1978-1987. Eur J Cancer. 1995, 31: 2028-34. 10.1016/0959-8049(95)00428-9.
 
[3]  Hol JA, Lopez-Yurda MI, Van Tinteren H, et al.: Prognostic significance of age in 5631 patients with Wilms tumour registered in International Society of Paediatric Oncology. PLoS One. 2019, 14: 0221373. 10.1371/journal.pone.0221373.
 
[4]  Steliarova-Foucher E: International incidence of childhood cancer, 2001-10: a population-based registry study. Lancet Oncol. 2017, 18: 719-31. 10.1016/S1470-2045(17)30186-9.
 
[5]  Rivera MN, Haber DA: Wilms’ tumor: connecting tumorigenesis and organ development in the kidney. Nat Rev Cancer. 2005, 5:699-712. 10.1038/nrc1696.
 
[6]  Buckley KS: Pediatric genitourinary tumors. Curr Opin Oncol. 2011, 23: 297-302. 10.1097/CCO.0b013e3283458613.
 
[7]  Rais, F., Benhmidou, et al.: Wilms tumor in childhood: Single centre retrospective study from the National Institute of Oncology of Rabat and literature review. Pediatric Hematology Oncology Journal. 1: 28-34. 10.1016/j.phoj.2016.07.006.
 
[8]  Chung EM, Graeber AR, Conran RM: Renal tumors of childhood: radiologic-pathologic correlation part 1. The 1st decade: from the Radiologic Pathology Archives. Radiographics. 2016, 36: 499-522. 10.1148/rg.2016150230.
 
[9]  Balis F, Green DM, Anderson C, et al.: Wilms tumor (nephroblastoma), version 2.2021, NCCN clinical practice guidelines in oncology. J Natl Compr Canc Netw. 2021, 19: 945-77. 10.6004/jnccn.2021.0037.
 
[10]  Tagoe, L. G., Bonney, et al.: Unusual metastatic patterns of Wilms tumor: A case series. Cureus. 16:54640-10. 10.7759/cureus.54640
 
[11]  Spreafico F, Fernandez CV, Brok J, et al.: Wilms tumour. Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2021, 7: 1-17. 10.1038/s41572-021-00308-8.
 
[12]  Davidoff AM. Wilms tumor: Adv Pediatr. 2012: 247-67. 10.1016/j.yapd.2012.04.001.
 
[13]  Elli M, Sungur M, Genç G, Ayyıldız P, Dağdemir A, Güçlü Pınarlı F, Acar S: The late effects of anticancer therapy after childhood Wilm's tumor: the role of diastolic function and ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. Jpn J Clin Oncol. 2013, 43: 1004-11. 10.1093/ jjco/hyt105.
 
[14]  Shamberger RC, Haase GM, Argani P, et al.: Bilateral Wilms’ tumors with progressive or nonresponsive disease. J Pediatr Surg. 2006, 41:652-7. 10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2005.12.004.
 
[15]  Fischbach BV, Trout KL, Lewis J, et al.: WAGR syndrome: a clinical review of 54 cases. Pediatrics. 2005, 116:984-8. 10.1542/peds.2004-0467.
 
[16]  Choufani S, Shuman C, Weksberg R: Molecular findings in Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome. Am J Med Genet C Semin Med Genet. 2013, 163: 131-40. 10.1002/ajmg.c.31363.
 
[17]  Blute ML, Kelalis PP, Offord KP, et al.: J Urol. 1987, 138:968-73. 10.1016/s0022-5347(17)43474-4.
 
[18]  Belger C, Abrahams C, Imamdin A, Lecour S: Doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity and risk factors. IJC Heart Vasculature. 2023, 50: 101332. 10.1016/j.ijcha.2023.101332.
 
[19]  Breslow, N. E., Collins, et al.: End-stage renal disease in patients with Wilms tumor: Results from the National Wilms Tumor Study Group and the United States Renal Data System. Journal of Urology. 174: 1972-1975. 10.1097/01.ju.0000176800.00994.3a.
 
[20]  Bal AS, Yalcin B, Susam-Şen H, et al.: Renal late effects after the treatment of unilateral nonsyndromic Wilms tumor. J Pediatr Hematol Oncol. 2016, 38:147-50. 10.1097/ MPH. 0000000000000557.