WILMS TUMOR

If the early cells of the kidney do not develop into glomeruli or nephrons, clusters of the immature cells may form in the kidneys when the baby is born. Usually, these cells mature by the time a child is 3 or 4 years old, but some may grow out of control, forming a mass of immature cells. This mass is called a Wilms tumor. It can also be called a nephroblastoma. A Wilms tumor is always cancerous and is the most common type of kidney cancer diagnosed in children. A cancerous tumor is malignant, meaning it can grow and spread to other parts of the body. However, a Wilms tumor is very different from adult kidney cancer