WILMS-TUMOR PRESENTING AS A PULMONARY-EMBOLISM

Wilms' tumour (nephroblastoma) is one of the most common solid maligna nt tumours in infancy and childhood. In about 40% of cases, invasion o f the renal vein is present. Rarely, these tumours extend into the inf erior vena cava and right atrium. We discuss a 7-week-old girl who pre sented with acute massive pulmonary embolism, and was found to have a large tumour of the left kidney. Later on, the diagnosis of Wilms' tum our was confirmed. Wilms' tumour presenting as massive pulmonary embol ism is extremely rare; to our knowledge this is the fourth case descri bed in literature. We review the cases previously described, and comme nt on the diagnostic and therapeutic features of this clinical entity.