Wilms tumor or nephroblastoma is cancer of the kidneys that typically occurs in children, rarely in adults.
Its common name is an eponym, referring to Dr. Max Wilms, the German surgeon (1867–1918) who first described this kind of tumor.
Approximately 500 cases are diagnosed in the U.S. annually. The majority (75%) occur in otherwise normal children; a minority (25%) is associated with other developmental abnormalities.
People of African descent have the highest rates of Wilms' tumor. Females are also more likely than males to develop the tumors. Most
instances of cancer occur among children under the age of 5.
It is highly responsive to treatment, with about 90% of patients surviving at least five years.
Further Reading
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