Wilms Tumor,Pathogenesis

<p>Wilms tumor appears to be caused by abnormal renal development, resulting in proliferation of the metanephric blastema without normal tubular and glomerular differentiation. Wilms tumor is thought to arise from foci of persistent metanephric cells referred to as nephrogenic rests or nephroblastomatosis. Nephrogenic rests normally occur in 1 percent of newborn kidneys and regress early in childhood. In contrast, they are present in 35 percent of kidneys with unilateral Wilms tumor and almost 100 percent of kidneys with bilateral disease.</p>