[Nephroblastoma with egg-shell peripheral calcifications. Apropos of 3 cases]

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Radiology
• Diagnostic Imaging
• Nephrology

Background:

• Nephroblastoma, also known as Wilms tumor, is the most common primary malignant tumor of the kidney in children.
• Radiological imaging plays a crucial role in the diagnosis and management of pediatric renal tumors.
• Calcifications within renal tumors can be a diagnostic clue, but their location and appearance vary.

Observation:

• This study reports three cases of nephroblastoma exhibiting unusual peripheral "egg-shell" calcifications with a pseudocystic appearance.
• These peripheral calcifications are contrasted with the more frequently observed central calcifications in nephroblastomas.
• The pathological basis and prognostic implications of these specific peripheral calcifications remain undetermined.

Findings:

• The diagnosis of nephroblastoma relies on a combination of imaging modalities including plain abdominal radiography, intravenous urography, ultrasound, and computed tomography.
• Peripheral "egg-shell" calcifications are noted as non-specific findings in these cases of nephroblastoma.
• Differential diagnosis primarily includes pediatric renal adenocarcinoma, which can present with similar calcifications, with age of onset being a key distinguishing factor.

Implications:

• The presence of peripheral "egg-shell" calcifications in nephroblastoma does not appear to hold significant prognostic value.
• Radiologists and clinicians should consider nephroblastoma in the differential diagnosis of pediatric renal masses with peripheral calcifications.
• Further research is needed to elucidate the underlying pathology and clinical significance of these rare calcification patterns in pediatric renal tumors.