Wilms tumors are usually detected when they start to cause symptoms such as swelling in the abdomen, but by this point they have often grown quite large. They can be detected earlier in some children with tests such as an abdominal ultrasound (a test that uses sound waves and a computer to make images of internal organs -- see the section, "How are Wilms tumors diagnosed?"). But because Wilms tumors are so rare, it is not practical to do ultrasound exams as a screening test (a test used for early diagnosis in people with no signs or symptoms of disease) if your child has no Wilms tumor risk factors. There are no blood tests or other tests that are useful in screening otherwise healthy children for Wilms tumors.

On the other hand, screening for Wilms tumor is very important for children who have syndromes or birth defects known to be linked to this disease. Most doctors recommend physical exams done by a specialist and ultrasound exams on a regular basis (for example, every 3 months until the child reaches 6 or 7 years old) to find any kidney tumors when they are still small and have not yet spread to other organs. Tell your health care provider if you have relatives who have had Wilms tumor. If you do, the children in the family may need to have regular ultrasound exams.

Last Medical Review: 09/14/2009
Last Revised: 09/14/2009