Pediatric renal tumors

A broad spectrum of renal tumors occurs in infants and children ranging fro m the benign cystic nephroma to the extremely aggressive malignant rhabdoid tumor of the kidney. A thorough understanding of these tumors is crucial t o the optimal diagnosis and management of children with renal masses. The c ommon renal tumors in infants and children are discussed and an orderly met hod for their evaluation is presented. Recent developments in the molecular biology of Wilms' tumor are outlined to provide insight into the origin of this tumor. (C) 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.