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Mucin-secreting Wilms' tumor. Report of two cases
A J Millar1, C Sinclair-Smith, A E Mills
1Department of Pathology, Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital, Rondebosch, Cape Town, South Africa.
Insights
Mucin-secreting Wilms' tumor can cause circulating mucin in children's blood. Surgical removal of the tumor (nephrectomy) normalized blood film appearances in both cases, with patients remaining tumor-free.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Oncology
- Nephrology
- Hematology
Background:
- Wilms' tumor is a rare kidney cancer primarily affecting children.
- Mucin-secreting variant of Wilms' tumor presents unique diagnostic challenges.
- Circulating tumor markers can aid in diagnosis and monitoring of pediatric cancers.
Abstract:
Two children, ages 7 years and 14 months, with mucin-secreting Wilms' tumor were treated at the Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital in 1987. In both cases, examination of peripheral blood films disclosed the characteristic appearance of circulating mucin. In each case the blood film appearances returned to normal following nephrectomy. Both patients are in good health and apparently tumor free at 16 and 18 months follow-up.