Wilms' tumor: A primary care case study and differential diagnosis

This article presents the discovery of Wilms' tumor in a previously healthy 5-year-old with chief complaint of upper respiratory symptoms. Wilms' tumors are rare childhood cancers comprising 5-6% of all childhood cancers (1,2). Only 7.8-8.1 cases per million children are diagnosed annually (2) or 460 new cases per year (1). However, Wilms' tumor accounts for the most common cause of renal neoplasm in children less than 15 years of age (3). Since Wilms' tumor is uncommon, it is most often found incidentally, as this one, during a routine exam. This article discusses a case study of Wilms' tumor in the context of the differential diagnosis and management of a left upper quadrant abdominal mass.