Adult onset wilms tumor.

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Pediatric Oncology
• Radiology

Background:

• Wilms tumor (WT) is the predominant pediatric renal malignancy with high survival rates.
• Adult WT is exceptionally rare, presenting diagnostic challenges due to nonspecific symptoms and overlapping imaging features with common renal cancers.
• Adult WT is associated with a significantly poorer prognosis compared to pediatric cases.

Observation:

• A 27-year-old female presented with hematuria, right lower quadrant pain, and fever.
• Initial clinical presentation and imaging were nonspecific, mimicking more common renal pathologies.
• Diagnostic delay occurred due to the atypical presentation of Wilms tumor in an adult.

Findings:

• Imaging findings in adult Wilms tumor can be nonspecific.
• Differential diagnosis for adult renal masses includes various renal cell carcinomas and other malignancies.
• Radiological features may not definitively distinguish Wilms tumor from other renal cancers in adults.

Implications:

• Increased awareness of adult Wilms tumor is crucial for timely diagnosis and improved outcomes.
• Radiologists and clinicians should consider Wilms tumor in the differential diagnosis of renal masses in young adults, despite its rarity.
• Further research into characteristic imaging findings or biomarkers for adult WT may aid in earlier detection.