# Adolescent Renal Tumours: Diagnostic and Therapeutic Challenges in a Transitional Age Group—A Multidisciplinary Case Report Series from a Single Center

**Authors:** Antonio Ruggiero, Fernando Fuccillo, Valerio Di Paola, Alberto Romano, Palma Maurizi, Dario Talloa, Nazario Foschi, Pierluigi Russo, Marco Racioppi, Stefano Mastrangelo, Giorgio Attinà

PMC · DOI: 10.32604/or.2026.072807 · Oncology Research · 2026-03-23

## TL;DR

This paper discusses the unique challenges of diagnosing and treating kidney tumors in adolescents, emphasizing the need for a multidisciplinary approach.

## Contribution

The paper presents a case series highlighting diagnostic and therapeutic challenges in adolescent renal tumors through a multidisciplinary approach.

## Key findings

- Adolescent renal tumors show a wide histological variability, including both pediatric and adult tumor types.
- Multidisciplinary evaluation is essential for accurate diagnosis and treatment planning in adolescents.
- Severe complications, such as thromboembolic events, can occur in adolescent patients with Wilms’ tumor.

## Abstract

The management of renal neoplasms in adolescent patients poses unique clinical challenges due to their transitional position between paediatric and adult populations. This age group exhibits marked heterogeneity in tumour histology, ranging from entities commonly observed in paediatric oncology to tumours typical of adult age, as well as rare histological subtypes that exceptionally affect the kidney. Given the substantial differences in clinical protocols between paediatric and adult populations, rigorous multidisciplinary evaluation is essential to determine optimal diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for adolescent patients.

We present four cases from our tertiary referral centre that illustrate the variability in radiological and histopathological presentations and clinical outcomes in this population, underscoring the critical importance of a multidisciplinary approach. Case 1 demonstrates the typical management of Wilms’ tumour in an older paediatric patient. Case 2 exemplifies the diagnostic challenge of distinguishing between Wilms’ tumour and renal cell carcinoma at the upper end of the adolescent spectrum. Case 3 revealed the unexpected diagnosis of renal Ewing sarcoma in a 13-year-old female. Case 4 highlights the potential for severe perioperative complications, including life-threatening thromboembolic events, in a patient with Wilms’ tumour.

The variability in tumour types, biological behaviour, and potential for severe complications underscores the necessity of comprehensive multidisciplinary management in specialized hospital settings. An integrated approach ensures accurate diagnosis, individualized treatment planning, and effective management of complications, ultimately optimizing outcomes for adolescent patients with renal neoplasms.

## Linked entities

- **Diseases:** Wilms’ tumour (MONDO:0006058), renal cell carcinoma (MONDO:0005086)

## Full-text entities

- **Genes:** VIM (vimentin) [NCBI Gene 7431], KDR (kinase insert domain receptor) [NCBI Gene 3791] {aka CD309, FLK1, VEGFR, VEGFR2}, TENM1 (teneurin transmembrane protein 1) [NCBI Gene 10178] {aka ODZ1, ODZ3, TEN-M1, TEN1, TNM, TNM1}, MYOD1 (myogenic differentiation 1) [NCBI Gene 4654] {aka CMYO17, CMYP17, MYF3, MYOD, MYODRIF, PUM}, PDCD1 (programmed cell death 1) [NCBI Gene 5133] {aka ADMIO4, AIMTBS, CD279, PD-1, PD1, SLEB2}, PTPRC (protein tyrosine phosphatase receptor type C) [NCBI Gene 5788] {aka B220, CD45, CD45R, GP180, IMD105, L-CA}, WT1 (WT1 transcription factor) [NCBI Gene 7490] {aka AWT1, GUD, NPHS4, WAGR, WIT-2, WT-1}, KRT20 (keratin 20) [NCBI Gene 54474] {aka CD20, CK-20, CK20, K20, KRT21}, FLI1 (Fli-1 proto-oncogene, ETS transcription factor) [NCBI Gene 2313] {aka BDPLT21, EWSR2, FLI-1, SIC-1}, CD99 (CD99 molecule (Xg blood group)) [NCBI Gene 4267] {aka HBA71, MIC2, MIC2X, MIC2Y, MSK5X}, ENO2 (enolase 2) [NCBI Gene 2026] {aka HEL-S-279, NSE}, DNTT (DNA nucleotidylexotransferase) [NCBI Gene 1791] {aka TDT}, DES (desmin) [NCBI Gene 1674] {aka CDCD3, CSM1, CSM2, LGMD1D, LGMD1E, LGMD2R}, MYOG (myogenin) [NCBI Gene 4656] {aka MYF4, bHLHc3, myf-4}, EWSR1 (EWS RNA binding protein 1) [NCBI Gene 2130] {aka EWS, EWS-FLI1}, SLC4A1 (solute carrier family 4 member 1 (Diego blood group)) [NCBI Gene 6521] {aka AE1, BND3, CD233, CHC, DI, EMPB3}, CTLA4 (cytotoxic T-lymphocyte associated protein 4) [NCBI Gene 1493] {aka ALPS5, CD, CD152, CELIAC3, CTLA-4, GRD4}
- **Diseases:** pulmonary infarctions (MESH:D054060), sarcoma (MESH:D012509), abdominal and lumbar pain (MESH:D015746), neuroblastoma (MESH:D009447), nausea (MESH:D009325), bleeding (MESH:D006470), rhabdomyosarcoma (MESH:D012208), renal function (MESH:D058186), left renal mass (MESH:C536030), rupture (MESH:D012421), Malignant rhabdoid tumor (MESH:D018335), Ewing sarcoma (MESH:D012512), renal vein thrombosis (MESH:D012170), pulmonary emboli (MESH:D020766), renal (MESH:D006030), renal lesion (MESH:D007674), flank pain (MESH:D021501), Clear cell sarcoma of the kidney (MESH:D018227), infarctions (MESH:D007238), weight loss (MESH:D015431), Malignancy (MESH:D009369), pulmonary embolism (MESH:D011655), WT (MESH:D009396), metastases (MESH:D009362), RCC (MESH:D002292), necrosis (MESH:D009336), VDC (MESH:D003929), gonadal toxicity (MESH:D006058), embolic (MESH:D004617), right ventricular outflow obstruction (MESH:D000092243), fever (MESH:D005334), diarrhoea (MESH:D003967), toxicity (MESH:D064420), SIOP-RTSG (MESH:C000719191), thromboembolic (MESH:D013923), Adolescent Renal Tumours (MESH:D007680), hypertension (MESH:D006973), NSS (MESH:D007683), solid (MESH:D018250), cardiac arrest (MESH:D006323), atrial thrombus (MESH:D013927), papillary (MESH:D002291), small round blue cell tumours (MESH:D058405), tachycardic episodes (MESH:C580065), lymphoblastic lymphoma (MESH:D054198), synovial sarcoma (MESH:D013584), tachycardia (MESH:D013610)
- **Chemicals:** ESMO (-), ipilimumab (MESH:D000074324), lenvatinib (MESH:C531958), axitinib (MESH:D000077784), Ifosfamide (MESH:D007069), cabozantinib (MESH:C558660), Etoposide (MESH:D005047), Vincristine (MESH:D014750), Carboplatin (MESH:D016190), actinomycin D (MESH:D003609), Cyclophosphamide (MESH:D003520), heparin (MESH:D006493), tyrosine (MESH:D014443), pembrolizumab (MESH:C582435), Doxorubicin (MESH:D004317)
- **Species:** Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606]

## Full text

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## Figures

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## References

38 references — full list in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC13040283/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC13040283