Browser does not support script.
Skip to main content
search here
Find out how we produce our information|
Wilms’ tumour is a type of kidney cancer| in children. About 70 children in the UK develop a Wilms' tumour each year. It most often affects children under the age of five.
This page describes Wilms’ tumour symptoms, diagnosis and possible treatments. We hope it answers your questions. If you have any further questions, you can ask a nurse or doctor involved in your child's treatment.
More children than ever are surviving childhood cancer. There are new and better drugs and treatments. But it remains devastating to hear that your child has cancer, and at times it can feel overwhelming. There are many healthcare professionals and support organisations to help you through this difficult time.
Understanding more about the cancer your child has and the treatments that may be used can often help parents to cope. We hope you find the information here helpful. Your child's specialist will give you more detailed information. If you have any questions it’s important to ask the specialist doctor or nurse who knows your child’s individual situation.
Wilms' tumour is a type of kidney cancer that was named after Dr Max Wilms, who first described it. It's thought to come from very specialised cells in the embryo known as metanephric blastema. These cells are involved in the development of the child's kidneys while they're in the womb. The cells usually disappear at birth, but in many children with Wilms' tumour, cells called nephrogenic rests can still be found.
Structure of the kidney
View a large copy of the structure of the kidney image|
The kidneys are a pair of organs found at the back of the abdomen. They clean the blood by removing excess fluids and waste products, which are then converted into urine.
In most children, the causes of Wilms' tumour are unknown. Very rarely, people who develop Wilms' tumour have other specific conditions which are present at birth (congenital malformations). These include the lack of an iris in the eye (aniridia), abnormalities of the genitals, and a condition where one side of the body is slightly larger than the other (hemihypertrophy).
In 1 in 100 people with Wilms' tumour, another family member will also have Wilms' tumour.
The most common symptom is a swollen abdomen, which is usually painless. Sometimes a parent or carer may feel a lump in the abdomen which can be quite large. Occasionally, the tumour may bleed slightly and this can irritate the kidney and may be painful. There may be blood in your child's urine, or their blood pressure may be raised. The child may also have a high temperature (fever), upset stomach, weight loss or a lack of appetite.
A variety of tests and investigations| may be needed to diagnose a Wilms' tumour.
An abdominal ultrasound scan is usually the first thing that is done. This will be followed by an MRI and/or CT scan of the abdomen and chest. These scans help doctors to identify exactly where the tumour is, and whether it has spread beyond the kidney. This is known as staging. Urine and blood samples will also be taken to check your child's kidney function and general health. Most children will go on to have a biopsy, where a sample of tissue is taken from the tumour to confirm the diagnosis.
Any tests and investigations that your child needs will be explained to you.
The stage of a cancer is a term used to describe its size and whether it has spread beyond its original site. Knowing the particular type and the stage of the cancer helps doctors decide on the most appropriate treatment.
In the case of a Wilms’ tumour, the stage is finalised after surgery to remove the tumour. As most Wilms’ tumour patients receive chemotherapy before surgery, you may not know the exact stage of your child's tumour straight away. An exception is that babies under six months old usually have surgery straight away.
A commonly-used staging system for Wilms' tumour is described below.
The tumour is only affecting the kidney and has not begun to spread. It can be completely removed with surgery.
The tumour has begun to spread beyond the kidney to nearby structures, but it’s still possible to remove it completely with surgery.
The tumour has spread beyond the kidney; either because the tumour has burst before (or during) the operation, has spread to lymph glands (nodes), or has not been completely removed by surgery.
The tumour has spread to other parts of the body such as the lungs or liver. Tumours in other parts of the body are known as metastases.
There are tumours in both kidneys (bilateral Wilms' tumour).
If the tumour comes back after initial treatment, this is known as recurrent cancer or relapse.
Treatment will depend on a number of factors including how the cells appear under the microscope (histology) and the stage of the tumour. Treatment may include chemotherapy|, radiotherapy| or surgery|.
All children with Wilms’ tumour will have surgery. Initially, this may only involve taking a small sample of cells from the tumour to confirm the diagnosis. This is called a biopsy and is usually done under a general anaesthetic using a needle inserted through the skin.
Apart from very young children (under six months), most patients will receive chemotherapy before having a bigger operation to remove the entire tumour. The operation usually involves removing the whole of the affected kidney (nephrectomy).
Based on the biopsy result, and after examining the whole tumour under the microscope, Wilms’ tumours can be divided into a number of groups based on knowledge about how these different types of tumours are likely to behave.
The majority of tumours are what is known as ‘standard risk’. So called ‘low risk’ tumours require less additional treatment than standard risk tumours.
Two types of Wilms’ tumour - anaplastic and blastemal - are considered to be ‘higher risk’ than other Wilms’ tumours and require more intensive (stronger) chemotherapy.
About 5-10% of Wilms’ tumours have an appearance called anaplasia, which means the cells look very disorganised under a microscope. This is sometimes identified at biopsy, but may only be found when the whole tumour is examined after surgery.
This group of high-risk tumours cannot be identified by looking at the biopsy because they occur when a particular type of early kidney cell survives the pre-surgery chemotherapy. These cells are known as blastemal cells. Tumours where most of these cells survive chemotherapy are called blastemal tumours.
Other, less common types of kidney tumours may occur in children. These are usually only recognised after surgery to obtain a tumour sample. Clear cell sarcoma and malignant rhabdoid tumour of the kidney are two types of cancerous tumour. These are treated in a similar way to high-risk Wilms' tumours.
Congenital mesoblastic nephroma is a non-cancerous (benign) tumour that occurs in very young children. This type of tumour usually only needs surgery and no other treatment.
Chemotherapy is the use of anti-cancer (cytotoxic) drugs to destroy cancer cells. It's usually given as an injection or drip into a vein (intravenously). Chemotherapy given before surgery is called neoadjuvant chemotherapy.
What doctors find out about the tumour after surgery - for example how the cells look under the microscope and how far the cancer has spread - helps them decide whether additional chemotherapy should be given (adjuvant chemotherapy). This is to help reduce the risk of the cancer coming back (recurring).
Radiotherapy treats cancer by using high-energy rays to destroy the cancer cells, while doing as little harm as possible to normal cells.
Not all children with Wilms’ tumour need radiotherapy. For those that do, the area to be treated depends on the stage of the tumour at diagnosis. Some children receive radiotherapy to the area around the affected kidney or to the whole abdomen. If the tumour has spread to the lungs then lung radiotherapy may be needed, but this depends on how well the cancer responds to initial chemotherapy: it’s not always needed.
Radiotherapy may occasionally be used to shrink tumours that are too large to remove surgically. This will, ideally, allow an operation to be done. Radiotherapy can also be used when tumours have spread elsewhere in the body.
In about 1 in 20 cases, Wilms’ tumour affects both kidneys. Treatment usually involves surgery to both. The aim of the treatment is to remove as much of the cancer as possible, while leaving as much healthy kidney as possible. Chemotherapy is always given. Sometimes radiotherapy is needed as well.
Treatment for Wilms' tumour often causes side effects. Your child’s doctor will discuss this with you before treatment starts. Side effects can include feeling sick (nausea) and being sick (vomiting)|, hair loss|, bruising and bleeding, tiredness|, diarrhoea| and an increased risk of infection|.
A small number of children may develop late side effects|, sometimes many years later. These include a possible reduction in bone growth, a change in the way the heart and lungs work, and a slight increase in their risk of developing another cancer in later life. Infertility| is a possible late side effect, although this is rare.
Your child’s doctor or nurse will talk to you about any possible late side effects.
Many children have their treatment as part of a clinical research trial|. Trials aim to improve our understanding of the best way to treat an illness, usually by comparing the standard treatment with a new or modified version. Specialist doctors carry out trials for children's cancers. If appropriate, your child's medical team will talk to you about taking part in a clinical trial, and will answer any questions you have. Written information will be provided to help explain things.
Taking part in a research trial is completely voluntary, and you'll be given plenty of time to decide if it's right for your child.
Most children with Wilms' tumour are cured. If the cancer comes back, it's usually within the first two years. When one kidney is removed, the other will be able to work normally and can take over the work of the other kidney.
Very few children have long-term kidney problems. Your child will have regular check-ups| to look for any recurrence.
If you have specific concerns about your child’s condition and treatment, it's best to discuss them with your child’s doctor, who knows the situation in detail.
As a parent, the fact that your child has cancer is one of the worst situations you can be faced with. You may have many different emotions, such as fear, guilt, sadness, anger and uncertainty. These are all normal reactions and are part of the process that many parents go through at such a difficult time.
Your teams of doctors and nurses are there to help support your child and family as well as carry out treatments. It is important to discuss any difficulties you may be having with your treatment team.
We have more information about the emotional impact| of caring for an unwell child and sources of help and support. There's also a page about the range of powerful emotions your child may experience| throughout their illness, including how you can support your child.
Our booklet Katie’s Garden| is a storybook for primary school-age children about a girl's experience of cancer.
CCLG| coordinates research and care for children and their parents. There are 21 CCLG specialist centres for the treatment of childhood cancer and leukaemia, covering all areas of the UK and Ireland (there's a map of the centres on the website).
This information has been compiled using a number of reliable sources, including:
With thanks to Dr Dan Yeomanson, Consultant in Oncology, and the people affected by cancer who reviewed this edition. Reviewing information is just one of the ways you could help when you join our Cancer Voices network|.
We worked with the Children's Cancer and Leukaemia Group (CCLG) to write our information about children's cancer.
For answers, support or just a chat, call the Macmillan Support Line free (Monday to Friday, 9am-8pm)
If you have any questions about cancer, need support or just want someone to talk to, ask Macmillan.