Spinal Invasion as a Rare Presentation in Children with a Wilms Tumour: 2 Cases and a Review of the Literature

Ilse Trip*, Annelies MC Mavinkurve-Groothuis*, Francis Wens, Annemieke Littooij, Kim Boshuisen, Ronald R de Krijger, Antonis Kattamis, Efthymia Rigatou and Marry M van den Heuvel-Eibrink

^*Correspondance to: Ilse Trip 

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Abstract:

Spinal invasion is a rare complication of Wilms tumour. We here describe two patients with spinal invasion, as a result of direct extension from the primary tumour or from vertebral bone metastasis. They both presented with symptoms of spinal cord compression, including muscle weakness and sensory disturbances. We conducted a search of all previously described cases of spinal invasion caused by either direct extension of the primary tumour or vertebral metastasis, and were able to identify five additional cases from the literature. In total, three out of seven patients presented with an extra-renal Wilms tumour. No correlations with histology, nor germline or somatic mutations or other molecular characteristics, were described. There was a personalised diagnostic and therapeutic approach. Six out of seven patients survived, with two patients achieving full neurological recovery and four patients experiencing residual neurological deficits. We show that very rarely malignant spinal cord compression occurs in children with a Wilms tumour as a result of direct extension from the primary tumour or vertebral metastases. Early detection and personalised interventions are necessary to prevent permanent neurological damage. Therefore, awareness that malignant spinal cord compression can occur in children with Wilms tumour at diagnosis is important.

Keywords:

Wilms Tumour

Cite the Article:

Trip I, Mavinkurve-Groothuis AMC, Wens F, Littooij A, Boshuisen K, de Krijger RR, et al. Spinal Invasion as a Rare Presentation in Children with a Wilms Tumour: 2 Cases and a Review of the Literature. Ann Clin Case Rep. 2025; 10: 2725..