Renal cell carcinoma in the first two decades of life

Renal cell carcinoma occurs rarely in the first two decades of life. This paper reviews the clinical and radiographic features of 17 such patients (10F: 7M, mean age = 12 years) seen in a 24 year period. The almost equal sex incidence contrasts with the male preponderance in adults. All patients presented with symptoms and signs referable to the primary lesion. In comparison to Wilms' tumor, renal cell carcinoma in childhood and adolescence usually presents with a smaller abdominal mass which is frequently not palpable or visible on plain abdominal radiographs. Ultrasound and CT showed non-specific solid intrarenal masses. This rare tumor of childhood should be included in the differential diagnosis of intrarenal mass lesions, particularly in older children with hematuria and renal calcification on plain radiographs. One child in this series had tuberous sclerosis. The prognosis depends on the stage of disease at presentation.