Mediastinal neuroblastoma in Wiedemann-Beckwith syndrome

A mediastinal neuroblastoma developed in a female infant with Wiedemann-Beckwith syndrome. Careful and close examinations in children with Wiedemann-Beckwith syndrome should therefore not only include screening for Wilms tumour but also for neuroblastoma.     

Successful pulmonary artery embolectomy in a patient with a saddle Wilms tumor embolus

Denys-Drash syndrome is a genetic disorder characterized by ambiguous genitalia, cryptorchidism, nephrotic syndrome, and a high predilection for Wilms tumor with intravascular invasion. We report a 5-year-old male with Denys-Drash syndrome who rapidly developed Wilms tumor with vascular invasion, subsequent saddle tumor embolus, and required emergent embolectomy. This case illustrates the rapid emergence of Wilms tumor in a patient with Denys-Drash syndrome and the importance of considering embolectomy over thrombolytic therapy for PE in this population, given a high likelihood of tumor embolus.     

Yolk Sac Tumor of the Placenta in Wiedemann-Beckwith Syndrome

The present report describes an example of multifocal (two) yolk sac tumor (YST) with mesenchyme-like and enteroid patterns found in the placenta (730 g) of a newborn (4200 g) with Wiedemann-Beckwith syndrome (WBS) phenotype (macroglossia, omphalocele, hemihypertrophy, cardiomegaly, hypoglycemia). YST has not been previously reported to develop in the placenta. This case expands further the spectrum of alterations found in the placenta in the WBS and fits in the list of tumors related to WBS. {KW}Key words: Wiedemann-Beckwith syndrome, yolk sac tumor, placenta Received April 23, 1997; accepted December 18, 1997.     

Pancreatoblastoma in a neonate with Wiedemann-Beckwith syndrome

The association of pancreatoblastoma and Wiedemann-Beckwith syndrome has not been noted previously. In this report we describe a child with Wiedemann-Beckwith syndrome who had a pancreatoblastoma resected on day 27 of life. He is also the first reported case of Wiedemann-Beckwith syndrome in a black baby.     

Perlman and Wiedemann-Beckwith syndromes: Two distinct conditions associated with Wilms' tumour

Though children with Perlman and Wiedemann-Beckwith syndromes have a number of features in common, the two conditions are probably separate entities. The distinction may not always be easy, however, partly because of the extreme rarity of Perlman syndrome, only nine cases of which have been reported so far. We report two siblings, initially diagnosed as having Wiedemann-Beckwith syndrome, in whom the correct diagnosis of Perlman syndrome was made only after an autopsy on the second child. By comparing and contrasting the features of Perlman and Wiedemann-Beckwith syndromes in this report we hope to make it easier to distinguish the two conditions.     

Case report: WT1 exon 6 truncation mutation and ambiguous genitalia in a patient with Denys-Drash syndrome

Denys-Drash syndrome is a rare genetic disorder featuring the triad of congenital nephropathy, Wilms tumor, and intersex disorders (XY under-virilization or XY female). Denys-Drash syndrome is associated with constitutional mutations in the Wilms tumor suppressor gene WT1. Unlike WAGR (Wilms tumor, aniridia, genitourinary anomalies, and mental retardation) syndrome, with its complete deletion of one copy of WT1, Denys-Drash syndrome is generally caused by a dominant-negative mutation. We present a new case of Denys-Drash syndrome in a patient initially diagnosed with XY ambiguous genitalia/partial androgen insensitivity syndrome, who was found to have a novel nonsense mutation in exon 6 leading to a stop codon and hence a truncated protein. Based on lessons learned from this patient, the diagnosis of Denys-Drash syndrome should be considered in the presence of ambiguous genitalia and partial androgen insensitivity.     

Clinicopathologic review of twelve children with nephropathy, Wilms tumor, and genital abnormalities (Drash syndrome)

The clinicopathologic and radiologic features of 12 children with complete and incomplete forms of Drash syndrome are reported. Their common denominator was a nephropathy. Four had the full triad, consisting of nephropathy, Wilms tumor, and genital abnormalities; five had nephropathy and genital abnormalities, and three had nephropathy and Wilms tumor. Of the 11 children who had proteinuria, eight had the nephrotic syndrome. Of the 10 whose condition progressed to end-stage renal failure, seven were less than 3 years of age. The histologic features of Wilms tumor were favorable in all seven children, and the tumor was bilateral in three. Of the nine patients who had genital abnormalities, eight had 46,XY karyotype and either ambiguous genitalia (six patients) or normal female phenotype (two). One other patient had a normal 46,XX female karyotype and phenotype but had both müllerian and wolffian structures and a streak ovary. Nine patients had a distinct pelvicaliceal abnormality not previously reported as a feature of this syndrome. Other congenital abnormalities were aniridia, mental retardation, deafness, nystagmus, and cleft palate. This syndrome must be considered in any infant with unexplained nephropathy, particularly in young phenotypic female infants and in those children with ambiguous genitalia or Wilms tumor with an early presentation.     

Bilateral Wilms tumor in a boy with severe hypospadias and cryptochidism due to a heterozygous mutation in the WT1 gene

Mutations in the WT1 gene causing Wilms tumors were first reported in WAGR syndrome (Wilms tumor, Aniridia, Genitourinary malformation, mental Retardation) and Denys Drash syndrome (pseudohermaphroditism, Wilms tumor, nephropathy), but only in a few patients with hypospadias and cryptorchidism without other signs of Denys Drash (DDS) or WAGR syndrome WT1 mutations were identified. We report a boy, who was born in 1989 with hypospadias and bilateral cryptorchidism. Previous karyotyping and endocrine studies had ruled out any known cause of male pseudohermaphroditism. Subsequently, he developed a bilateral Wilms tumor, which was detected by palpation at the age of 15 months during a routine visit by the general pediatrician. Because of its extensive size, surgery and chemotherapy were needed for treatment. Analysis of the WT1 gene was performed 5 y after diagnosis and revealed a C to T transition in one allele generating a stop codon at codon 362 and subsequently leading to a truncated protein with loss of its ability to bind to DNA. No signs of DDS or WAGR syndrome are present in the boy. The work up of this patient and the so far known few comparable cases from the literature lead to the conclusion that in newborns with severe urogenital malformations not due to known chromosomal or endocrine disorders mutational screening of the WT1 gene should be performed, to evaluate the high risk of developing a Wilms tumor. We favor mutational screening in these patients as an easy tool for investigation, because in the future it will probably decrease the necessity of frequent control visits in patients without a WT1 mutation.     

Rare clinical entity Perlman syndrome: Is cholestasis a new finding?

Perlman syndrome is a rare syndrome characterized by polyhydramnios, fetal overgrowth, facial dysmorphism, visceromegaly, nephroblastomatosis and predisposition to Wilms tumor. Here we report on a newborn with a prenatal history of polyhydramnios who presented with nephromegaly, hypotonia, macrosomia, facial dysmorphism, cholestasis and characteristic ultrasonographic and computed tomographic appearances of renal abnormalities that are observed with Perlman syndrome. Perlman syndrome is a rare entity with a high neonatal mortality rate. This is the first case in which cholestasis has been observed. Close follow‐up should be carried out for early detection of Wilms tumor.     

Hepatopathy-thrombocytopenia syndrome (HTS) after actinomycin-D therapy: report of three cases and review of the literature

Hepatopathy-thrombocytopenia syndrome (HTS) is a severe complication very similar to vein occlusive disease (VOD), also known as hepatic sinusoidal obstructive syndrome (SOS), characterized by fever, hepatopathy (hepatomegaly with abnormal liver function tests), ascites, weight gain, jaundice, and thrombocytopenia (platelet count less than 25 × 10(3)/μL). It has been generally observed in patients with Wilms tumor, and is commonly associated to administration of actinomycin D. We report three children with Wilms tumor, with severe HTS/SOS, but had a different outcome, in spite of vigorous supportive therapy.     

Management of Wilms tumors in Drash and Frasier syndromes

Background

Children with WT1 gene‐related disorders such as Denys–Drash syndrome (DDS) and Frasier syndrome (FS) are at increased risk of Wilms tumor and end‐stage renal disease. We investigated whether Wilms tumors in these patients displayed a specific phenotype or behavior and whether nephron‐sparing surgery was beneficial.

Procedure

We retrospectively studied all patients with DDS, FS, or other WT1 mutations treated at our institutions between 1980 and 2007.

Results

We identified 20 patients, of whom 18 had benign or malignant tumors. Wilms tumors occurred in 15 patients, being unilateral in 10 and bilateral in 5 (20 tumors). Median age at Wilms tumor diagnosis was 9 months. No patients had metastases. According to the International Society of Pediatric Oncology Working Classification, there were 19 intermediate‐risk tumors and one high‐risk tumor; no tumor was anaplastic. In patients with nephropathy who underwent unilateral nephrectomy for Wilms tumor or nephron‐sparing surgery for bilateral Wilms tumor, mean time to dialysis was 11 or 9 months, respectively. Other tumors included three gonadoblastomas (in two patients), one retroperitoneal soft‐tissue tumor, and one transitional cell papilloma of the bladder. Two patients, both with stage I Wilms tumor, died from end‐stage renal disease‐related complications. The median follow‐up time for the 18 survivors was 136 months (range, 17–224 months).

Conclusion

Most Wilms tumors in children with WT1‐related disorders were early‐stage and intermediate‐risk tumors, with a young age at diagnosis. In patients without end‐stage renal disease, nephron‐sparing surgery should be considered for delaying the onset of renal failure. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2009;52:55–59. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Screening of children with hemihypertrophy,aniridia, and Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome in patients with wilms tumor: A report from the national Wilms tumor study

To evaluate the usefulness of regular radiographic screening to detect an asymptomatic intraabdominal tumor in patients with an increased risk of developing Wilms tumor, we reviewed the files of patients with hemihypertrophy, aniridia, or Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome who were registered on the National Wilms Tumor Studies. Screening was employed infrequently in the management of children with hemihypertrophy, with only 25% (6/24) of those whose hemihypertrophy was identified more than 30 days prior to the diagnosis of Wilms tumor undergoing such examinations. Most patients with aniridia were evaluated regularly for the occcurrence of Wilms tumor. There were more stage 1 tumors identified in patients whose tumor was detected only through radiographic evaluation. The role of routine radiographic screening needs to be carefully evaluated in a homogeneous group of patients such as those with aniridia using a prospective study design to determine if such screening improves the survival rate of children with this rapidly growing, but readily treatable form of childhood cancer. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

A CASE OF JARCHO-LEVIN SYNDROME ASSOCIATED WITH BILATERAL CYSTIC RENAL DISEASE AND WILMS TUMOR: MR Imaging Findings

Jarcho-Levin syndrome (JLS) is a congenital disorder characterized by a variety of vertebral and costal anomalies that result in thoracic deformity. Hitherto, a plethora of associated anomalies have been described in several reports. In this report, the authors describe a case of JLS who has Wilms tumor and bilateral cystic renal disease. To the authors’ knowledge, there is only a single case of JLS who presented with multiple renal cortical cysts, but none with an associated Wilms tumor in the literature. Additional anomalies seen in the present case that are related with this syndrome are also discussed.     

The Wiedemann-Beckwith syndrome in four sibs including one with associated congenital hypothyroidism

Two boys and two girls from a sibship of six, affected with the Wiedemann-Beckwith syndrome (WBS), are reported. One of the patients also had congenital hypothyroidism, an association hitherto undescribed and possibly fortuitous. Neither stigmata of WBS in other family members nor parental consanguinity were found, indicating a possible autosomal dominant inheritance comprising either a delayed mutation of an unstable premutated gene or non-penetrance.Abbreviations WBS Wiedemann-Beckwith syndrome - ADI autosomal dominant inheritance     

Epidemiology of Wilms tumor

Wilms tumor affects approximately one child per 10,000 worldwide before the age of 15 years. Incidence rates appear to be slightly elevated for U.S. and African Blacks in comparison to Whites, but are only half as great among Asians. Several case-control studies have suggested that paternal occupational or maternal hormonal exposures during pregnancy may increase the risk of Wilms tumor, but small numbers of subjects and inconsistencies in the patterns of exposures do not permit firm conclusions to be drawn. It is unlikely that such environmental exposures play a major role in the etiology of Wilms tumor. The median age-at-onset of Wilms tumor is 38 months in the U.S. National Wilms Tumor Study series, with cases in girls occurring on average 6 months later than in boys. Patients with bilateral tumors, aniridia, cryptorchism/hypospadias, Beck-with-Wiedemann syndrome, or intralobar nephrogenic rests tend to be diagnosed much younger than average (median 17–27 months). Those with familial disease or multicentric tumors have intermediate age-at-onset distributions, while those with perilo-bar nephrogenic rests are diagnosed at older ages. The epidemiologic features suggest that somatic mosaicism, rather than a germ-line mutation, may be responsible for some of the bilateral and multicentric cases. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Long‐term remission of bilateral Wilms tumors that developed from premature separation of chromatids/mosaic variegated aneuploidy syndrome due to bilateral nephrectomy and peritoneal dialysis

We report a 38‐month‐old Japanese male with premature chromatid separation/mosaic variegated aneuploidy syndrome bearing biallelic BUB1B germline mutations who suffered from bilateral Wilms tumor. After right nephrectomy, dactinomycin monotherapy was administered for the left Wilms tumor; however, severe adverse reaction prevented the patient from receiving further chemotherapy. Left nephrectomy was then performed without postoperative chemotherapy. The patient survived for 15 months after bilateral nephrectomy without peritoneal relapse, metastasis of Wilms tumor, or the occurrence of rhabdomyosarcoma and maintained a good quality of life while receiving peritoneal dialysis at home.     

Isolated diffuse mesangial sclerosis and Wilms tumor suppressor gene

Diffuse mesangial sclerosis is a rare renal disease, occurring either in isolation or as part of Denys-Drash syndrome. Denys-Drash syndrome originates from mutations of the Wilms tumor suppressor gene (WT1 ). We describe the presence of WT1 mutations in 7 Japanese children with isolated diffuse mesangial sclerosis.     

Screening for Wilms tumor in children with Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome or idiopathic hemihypertrophy

BACKGROUND: Children with Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome and idiopathic hemihypertrophy (BWS/HH) are at increased risk for developing Wilms tumor and screening with abdominal sonography is frequently recommended. However, there is a paucity of published data supporting this strategy. The purpose of this study was to determine whether sonographic screening at intervals of 4 months or less reduced the proportion of late-stage Wilms Tumor (WT) in children with BWS/HH. PROCEDURE: A case series analysis was employed to compare the proportion of late-stage (stage III or IV) Wilms tumor in patients with BWS/HH who were screened with sonography (n = 15) to the proportion of late-stage Wilms tumor in unscreened patients with BWS/HH (n = 59). Patients were identified from the BWS Registry and from previously published studies. Screened patients had sonograms at intervals of 4 months or less. RESULTS: None of the 12 screened children with Wilms tumor had late-stage disease, whereas 25 of 59 (42%) of unscreened children had late-stage Wilms tumor, a difference that was statistically significant (P < 0.003). Three children had false positive screening studies. They were operated on for suspected Wilms tumor but the lesions proved to be complicated renal cysts (n = 2) or nephroblastomatosis (n = 1). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that children with BWS/HH may benefit from screening sonograms at intervals of 4 months or less. However, false positive screening exams may result in unnecessary surgery. Given the rarity of BWS/HH, a larger, prospective international screening study is necessary to determine if the benefits of screening outweigh the risks.     

Poland's syndrome and Wilms tumor: An unusual association

Poland's syndrome, a rare congenital disorder with pectoralis muscular girdle defect, have been reported in association with lymphoreticular malignancies in the past. Childhood solid tumors in association with this congenital anomaly have not been reported so far. We describe this rare association of Poland's syndrome and Wilms tumor. Due to the possibility of increased risk of leukemogenesis in patients with Poland's syndrome, chemo-radiation therapy of Wilms tumor in our patient may increase the risk of secondary leukemia. Therapeutic modification of primary cancer in these patients may be necessary with careful long-term follow-up for early detection and treatment of secondary cancer. Med. Pediatr. Oncol. 30:67–68, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Cushing syndrome as a presenting symptom of renal tumors in children

Cushing syndrome as the presenting symptom of a malignant renal tumor in children is rare. We report the first case of paraneoplastic Cushing syndrome due to a Wilms tumor, in which clinical and biological signs of hypercortisolism regressed during preoperative chemotherapy. Additionally, we reviewed the literature on paraneoplastic Cushing syndrome secondary to pediatric renal tumors. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2009;53:211–213. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.