What is the Rhabdoid tumour of the kidney?
Rhabdoid Tumour of the kidney is a very aggressive kidney cancer that occurs most often in children.Disease Epidemiology
It accounts for approximately 2% of kidney cancers in children. This occurs exclusively in children under 2 years of age.Disease Etiology
It is believed that a certain genetic mutation (alteration) is responsible for the development of rhabdoid tumours. It is a very aggressive tumour, in 82% of registered patients it spreads to distant parts of the body, and 90% of patients die within 2 years.Signs and symptoms
The patient may develop the following signs and symptoms. These are- Pain in the loin/flank
- Passage of blood or blood particles in the urine
- A palpable mass in the loin or abdomen
- Unexplained weight loss
- Night sweats
- Fever
- Lethargy
- Metastasis to the lungs, liver, brain, abdomen, lymph nodes and bones are common.
Diagnosis
The following diagnostic tests and procedures can be used to make a diagnosis. These are- Imaging techniques like CT-abdomen and pelvis, USG abdomen and pelvis, MRI, CT-chest, and X-ray to assess the site, size, extent, and distant metastasis of the tumour.
- Renal arteriography ( Ultrasonography of the main artery of the kidney)
- Venography
- CT-scan and MRI brain to detect the distant metastasis of the tumour