Title:Genitourinary Tract Tumors in Children: An Update
Volume: 18
Issue: 3
Author(s): Andrés Augusto González-Arboleda, Nicolás Fernandez and Herney Andrés García-Perdomo*
Affiliation:
- UROGIV Research Group, School of Medicine, Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia
- Division of Urology, Department of Surgery,
School of Medicine, Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia
Keywords:
Pediatric tumor, genitourinary tract, wilms tumor, rhabdomyosarcoma, testicular tumor, adrenal tumor.
Abstract:
Background: Genitourinary tract tumors in children are less common than in adults.
Most of these tumors have different genetic backgrounds, clinical presentation, and oncologic behavior
than their adult counterpart. As a result of low prevalence in children, some of the treatment
approaches and recommendations are based on treatment experience in adult patients. However,
thanks to scientific and technological development, survival rates have risen considerably.
Objective: This paper presents a review of the principal features of the tumors involving the genitourinary
tract in children and an update in genetic background, diagnosis, and treatment.
Methods: A narrative review was performed on published literature about genitourinary tract tumors
in pediatric patients. Papers presented in English and Spanish literature were reviewed.
PubMed, Science Direct, and SciELO databases were used to collect information and present this
article.
Results: Kidney tumors are the most common type of genitourinary tumors in children. Among
those, Wilms tumor represents the majority of cases and shows the successful work of clinical trial
groups studying this tumor type. Other tumors involving the genitourinary tract in children include
Rhabdomyosarcoma, Transitional cell carcinoma, Testicular, and Adrenal tumors.
Conclusion: Genitourinary tract tumors in children represent significant morbidity and economic
burden, so awareness in early diagnosis represents improvement in treatment, clinical, and oncological
outcomes.