Spinal cord compression due to metastases from nephroblastoma or renal clear cell sarcoma. Three pediatric cases.

Few cases of spinal cord compression due to renal tumor metastases have bee n reported in the pediatric literature. Three patients, aged 5, 8, and 2 ye ars, respectively, were treated successfully for nonmetastatic renal tumors . The diagnosis was Wilms tumor in the first two cases and clear cell sarco ma in the third. All three patients experienced abrupt onset of flaccid par aplegia. The mean time interval between this symptom and the nephrectomy wa s 10.5 months. The second patient had pulmonary densities and the third a m ass in the wall of the lumbar area. The history and the results of myelogra phy coupled with computed tomography suggested a renal tumor recurrence. Th is diagnosis was confirmed histologically after laminectomy in one patient, The relevant literature is reviewed.