Renal tumors

Abstract

Renal tumors represent more than 6 % of total cancer diagnoses among children younger than 15 years of age and comprise a spectrum of several histologic subtypes that in recent years have been recognized as distinct pathologic entities. Wilms tumor, also called nephroblastoma, is the most frequently occurring (87 %); the other rare histologic types are classified as non-Wilms tumor category and encompass clear cell sarcoma of the kidney, rhabdoid tumor of the kidney, congenital mesoblastic nephroma, multilocular cystic renal tumor, renal cell carcinoma, angiomyolipoma, renal medullary carcinoma, and leukemia/lymphomas (Table 25.1) (Pastore et al. Eur J Cancer 42(13):2103–2114, 2006, Argani and Ladanyi Adv Anat Pathol 10(5):243–260, 2003). Due to their histological heterogeneity and variable grade of malignancy, renal neoplasms in children may have a different response to therapies and mortality. Multimodality therapies have resulted in a significant improvement in outcome from approximately 30 % in the 1930s to more than 85 % in the modern era, representing a successful example of tumor treatment.