Wilms' tumor stages are based on the amount of tumor that remains after the patient has had surgery to look at or remove the tumor. The stages of Wilms' tumor include stages I through V and recurrent cases of the cancer. It's important to determine which of the Wilms' tumor stages best describes the cancer in order to plan treatment. In addition to stages, cases of Wilms' tumor are also described by their histology, or how the cancer cells appear under a microscope.
After doctors have confirmed a diagnosis of Wilms' tumor, they will usually order more tests to determine if cancer cells have spread from the kidney to other parts of the body. This is called Wilms' tumor staging. It is important to determine the stage of Wilms' tumor in order to plan treatment. For Wilms' tumor, the stage of the cancer is based on the amount of tumor that remains after the patient has had surgery to look at or remove the tumor.
Specific Wilms' Tumor Stages
Specific Wilms' tumor stages include:
Stage I
Stage II
Stage III
Stage IV
Stage V
Recurrent.
Stage I Wilms' Tumor
In stage I of Wilms' tumor, the tumor was completely removed by surgery and all of the following are true:
Cancer was found only in the kidney and did not spread to blood vessels of the kidney
The outer layer of the kidney did not break open
The tumor did not break open
A biopsy of the tumor was not done
No cancer cells are found at the edges of the area where the tumor was removed.
Stage II Wilms' Tumor
In stage II of Wilms' tumor, the cancer has spread deeper into other parts of the kidney and to nearby blood vessels, but was completely removed by surgery. No cancer cells are found at the edges of the area where the tumor was removed.
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