Nephroblastomatosis and multiple bilateral nephroblastomata. Histologic, therapeutic, and theoretical aspects

A hemihypertrophic girl had multiple sequential bilateral Wilms' tumors over a period of five years. Diagnostic biopsy and resected specimens showed also the presence of nephroblastomatosis, presumably the substrate from which these multiple tumors arose. The patient died of complications of chemotherapy and dialysis after bilateral nephrectomy, but also had residual tumor. The relationships between nephroblastomatosis, Wilms' tumor, bilateral Wilms' tumor, and teratogenic disorders are discussed, and the therapeutic implications of the nephroblastomatosis/nephroblastoma complex are considered.