Wilms' tumor

Wilms' tumor is a rare type of kidney cancer that affects children. It causes a tumor on one or both kidneys. Having certain genetic conditions or birth defects can increase the risk of developing Wilms' tumor. Children who are at risk should be screened for Wilms' tumor every three months until they turn eight.

Possible signs of a kidney tumor include a lump in the abdomen and blood in the urine. The tumor is usually diagnosed and removed in surgery. Other treatments include chemotherapy, radiation, biologic therapy or a combination. Biologic therapy, or immunotherapy, boosts your body's own ability to fight cancer. Most children with Wilms' tumor can be cured

kidneys

The kidneys are organs that have numerous biological roles. Their primary role is to maintain the homeostatic balance of bodily fluids by filtering and secreting metabolites (such as urea) and minerals from the blood and excreting them, along with water, as urine.

Because the kidneys are poised to sense plasma concentrations of ions such as sodium, potassium, hydrogen, and compounds such as amino acids, creatinine, bicarbonate, and glucose, they are important regulators of blood pressure, glucose metabolism, and erythropoiesis (the process by which red blood cells (erythrocytes) are produced). The medical field that studies the kidneys and diseases of the kidney is called nephrology.

Ectopia cordis

Ectopia cordis is a birth defect in which the heart is abnormally located. In the most common form, the heart protrudes outside the chest through a split sternum. Less often the heart may be situated in the abdominal cavity or neck.

Often other birth defects are also present. This condition is usually fatal in the first days of life. In some cases surgical treatment is possible. The ectopic heart is not protected by the skin or sternum. Other organs may also have formed outside the skin. Often the heart is not formed properly and many other heart defects are associated with this condition including: Tetralogy of Fallot, pulmonary atresia, atrial and ventricular septal defects, double outlet right ventricle. Other non cardiac malformations may be present such as cleft palates, spine malformations that can cause kyphosis.