Intra-cardiac extension of a Wilms’ tumor

Abstract

Wilms᾿ tumor, or renal nephroblastoma, is the commonest malignant renal tumor in children and young adults. Intravascular and intracardiac extension of this tumor is a very rare and challenging clinical entity. The case is reported of a 6-year-old boy diagnosed with nephroblastoma, in whom the tumor involved the inferior vena cava and the right atrium. The successful multimodal surgical management consisted of combined, synchronous surgical resection of both renal and intracardiac tumors. The boy had an uneventful postoperative course and recovery, followed by relapse-free living. Intra-cardiac extension of Wilm’s tumor poses a surgical challenge where the favorable outcome is provided only by the combined and well-coordinated, skilled multidisciplinary care of pediatric surgeons and pediatric cardiac surgeons.