Antenatal diagnosis of Wilms tumor

Fetal Wilm's tumor detection preceding the development of isolated lateralized overgrowth of the limb: a case report and review of literature

Fetal Wilms tumor (WT) is extremely rare, but with advances in fetal imaging, more cases are being reported. The management of these cases remains challenging. Herein, we present the case of a full-term female infant diagnosed antenatally at 32 weeks of gestation with a right solid renal mass detected on routine prenatal ultrasound without polyhydramnios. At birth, the infant was healthy, with no evidence of dysmorphic features or abnormal laboratory tests to suggest a predisposition syndrome. Her family history was also unremarkable. A successful radical right nephrectomy was performed on day 2 of life revealing a classic WT. She received vincristine as adjuvant chemotherapy without any complications. At the age of 1 month, the infant developed isolated lateralized overgrowth of the right lower limb suspicious of Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome. At the latest follow-up of 4 years, the child is healthy and disease-free with conserved asymmetry of lower limbs. The case provides insights into the challenging diagnosis and treatment of fetal WT. A review of the literature suggests that the presence of polyhydramnios is a worse prognostic factor while the combination of best supportive care and surgery remains the best management. Fetal WT can be associated with predisposition syndromes; however, their first manifestations can develop after the diagnosis of cancer has been made, as in our patient. We propose starting active surveillance programs and genetic testing for any case of fetal WT.

Prenatal Course and Sonographic Features of Congenital Mesoblastic Nephroma

Background: Congenital mesoblastic nephroma (CMN) is the most common renal tumor among fetuses and infants before the age of 6 months. It usually behaves as a benign tumor. The prenatal features and outcomes of pregnancies with fetal CMN have never been systematically reviewed and analyzed, whereas neonatal or pediatric series have been published several times. The aims of this study are to (1) describe the prenatal natural course and prenatal sonographic char-acteristics of CMN; (2) determine the outcomes of pregnancies with fetal CMN; and (3) demonstrate typical sonographic images together with video clips of prenatal CMN, as an educational example based on our index case presented here. Methods: Studies focused on fetal CMN, including those consecutively published on PubMed from 1980 to June 2022 as well as the index case presented here, were identified and validated to perform a systematic review. The data of fetal imaging and the prenatal course of pregnancies were extracted for analysis. Results: The findings derived from 41 cases of review are as follows: (1) No single case has been diagnosed in the first half of pregnancy. No cases were detected during routine anomaly screening at mid-pregnancy. All cases were de-tected in the third trimester or late second trimester. (2) Polyhydramnios is very common and is the first clinical manifestation in most cases, leading to detailed ultrasound in the second half of pregnancy. (3) Preterm birth and low birth weight are the most common adverse pregnancy out-comes, resulting in neonatal morbidity. (4) Hydrops fetalis, though relatively rare, can be associated with CMN and is a grave sign. (5) Prenatal diagnosis is essential since it is critical for the antenatal plan, comprising either referral to a tertiary care center or proper surveillance to prevent serious obstetric complications, especially preterm birth. (6) Ultrasound is the primary tool for prenatal diagnosis of CMN, whereas MRI can be used as an adjunct if some other tumors are suspicious or sonographic features are not typical for CMN. Conclusion: In contrast to CMN in neonates, fetal CMN is much more serious since it significantly impacts adverse pregnancy outcomes and perinatal morbidity and mortality. The typical prenatal course and the sonographic features of CMN are described.

Imaging of solid congenital abdominal masses: a review of the literature and practical approach to image interpretation

Fetal abdominal tumors are rare, usually benign, and cause a great deal of anxiety for expectant parents and the physicians counseling them. In this paper the author reviews the most common fetal abdominal tumors in the liver (hemangioma, mesenchymal hamartoma, hepatoblastoma, metastases) and the kidney (congenital mesoblastic nephroma, Wilms tumor, malignant rhabdoid tumor, and clear cell sarcoma), and suprarenal mass lesions (adrenal neuroblastoma, adrenal hemorrhage, and subdiaphragmatic extralobar pulmonary sequestration). The author describes the imaging approach, imaging appearance and differentiating features of tumors, and differences between fetal and childhood appearances of tumors.

Antenatal Presentation of Wilms' Tumor

Tumors discovered antenatally are rare and the prognosis is generally poor. We present a case of a fetal left renal mass, initially discovered via routine prenatal ultrasound. The mother was an otherwise healthy gravida 4 para one 30-year-old female with 2 previous miscarriages, reportedly secondary to septate uterus. Further imaging and subsequent genetic testing was consistent with an antenatal Wilms' tumor with a mutation in the NPHP1 gene. The newborn received chemotherapy and had no evidence of recurrence at 3 months follow-up.

Management of fetal tumors

In this review article, we discuss the most common fetal tumors, their prenatal management, and outcomes. Overall, the most important outcome predictors are tumor histology, size, vascularity, and location. Very large lesions, lesions causing cardiac failure, and hydrops and lesions obstructing the fetal airway have the poorest outcome, as they may cause fetal death or complications at the time of delivery. Fetal therapy has been developed to improve outcomes for the most severe cases and can consist of transplacental therapy (sirolimus for rhabdomyomas or steroids for hemangiomas and microcystic lung lesions) or surgical intervention (shunting of cystic masses, tumor ablation, occlusion of blood flow or airway exploration, and protection). Given the rarity of fetal tumors, patients should be referred to expert centers where care can be optimized and individualized to allow the best possible outcomes.

A Case of Prenatally Diagnosed Wilms Tumor Managed With Laparoscopic Nephrectomy

We present a case of prenatally diagnosed Wilms tumor, with subsequent operative approach and management. The patient was referred to our institution with an abnormal prenatal renal ultrasound. Computed tomography scan after delivery showed a multifocal enhancing left renal mass. The patient underwent an uncomplicated left laparoscopic radical nephrectomy and retroperitoneal lymph node sampling using a novel hidden incision endoscopic surgery technique. Final pathology revealed favorable histology stage II Wilms tumor. The patient underwent adjuvant chemotherapy with vincristine and dactinomycin based on the EE4A regimen. We highlight the diagnostic pathway, perioperative management, surgical approach, and early postoperative follow-up in this case report.

A rare occurrence of neonatal nephroblastoma in sub-saharan Africa: a case report and management in a resource-constrained region

Neonatal nephroblastoma has been rarely reported in African neonate. A premature newborn (a 5-day-old male) was transferred with a history of neonatal abdominal mass. Ultrasonography revealed 75×46 mm, well-defined mass with mixed echogenicity replacing the right kidney. The patient underwent right radical nephrectomy and the tumor was confirmed to be a blastemal predominant Wilms’ tumor by the histopathological examination and has an unfavorable prognosis. The child died secondary to multiple organ failure, three days after surgery. Our case report serves to remind us the need to bear in mind the possibility of the diagnosis of neonatal nephroblastoma in neonate with renal mass.

Is antenatal detection of Wilms' tumor a bad prognostic marker?

Antenatal detection of Wilms' tumor is rare and only nine cases have been reported till now in the English literature. We report a case of a 7-month-old child with prenatally detected renal mass managed by nephroureterectomy associated with intraoperative spill. The child developed recurrence while on DD4A chemotherapy. Salvage chemotherapy was initiated but there was no response after two cycles and the child expired due to tumor rupture.

Fetal tumors: imaging features

Although fetal tumors are rare, the prognostic and decision-making implications are substantial. The purpose of this pictorial essay is to highlight the most common tumors encountered during fetal imaging and to discuss the respective typical imaging findings. When appropriate, limited additional information regarding further considerations for patient care will be included.

Fetal and placental malignancies: prenatal diagnosis and management

Fetal and placental malignancies are rare complications during pregnancy, but when they occur they may present significant challenges for the perinatology team. Owing to their rarity, there is limited information on many of these entities, with much data derived from individual case reports or small case series. Prenatal diagnosis of these entities is rare and inconsistent, usually in the form of isolated case reports. In the majority of fetal tumors, prenatal features are those of a mass lesion, with or without other non-specific features of fetal compromise such as polyhydramnios, fetal hydrops or intrauterine death, the final diagnosis in most cases being based on postnatal pathological examination.Expectant management is almost always indicated antenatally, with serial ultrasound examinations performed to detect rapid enlargement, metastasis or secondary fetal complications, such as non-immune hydrops, which may require intervention. Delivery should be planned in a specialist center in conjunction with pediatric surgeons and oncologists to allow appropriate neonatal management. Placental malignancy is most commonly in the form of gestatational trophoblastic disease, which requires assessment and management in specialist centers.

[Malignant renal tumors before one year of age. Experience of a North African pediatric surgery service]

The malignant tumours of the kidney are not very frequent during the first year of life and pose diagnostic and therapeutic problems. The aim of this work is to make an analysis of the epidemiologic, clinical and anatomo-pathological characteristics of these tumours during the first year of life and a development on the therapeutic methods and their results.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

[corrected] This is a retrospective study of 8 observations of malignant tumours of the kidney whose first symptomatology appeared during the first year of life.

RESULTS

The malignant tumours of the kidney observed before the one year age constituted 18% of the tumours of the kidney in the child. A female prevalence was noted with a sex-ratio of 0.6. The assessment of extension found cutaneous (one case), ganglionic (one case) and pulmonary (two cases) metastases. First chemotherapy was prescribed to five patients. The surgery consisted on a widened nephrectomy in seven cases and a tumorectomy for an infant presenting a nephroblastomatosis. The tumour corresponded to a nephroblastoma in seven cases and a rhabdoide tumour in the last case. Mortality was high (50%) caused by the toxicity of chemotherapy in three cases and an advanced stage of cancer in one case.

CONCLUSION

Renal tumoral pathology occurring in infants less than one year of age poses true etiologic and therapeutic problems. The high frequency of the nephroblastoma and the absence of benign tumour in our series encourage us to evocate more often the malignant renal tumours and to practice per cutaneous biopsies in case of diagnostic doubt.