Wilms' Tumor Presenting as Sudden Death due to Pulmonary Tumor Embolism.

Korean J Leg Med. 1999 May;23(1):88-91. Korean.

Department of Pathology, Hanyang University and Chungang University.

Department of Forensic Medicine, National Institute of Scientific Investigation

Wilms' tumor is the most common urinary tract neoplasm and one of the most frequent solid abdominal malignant tumors of childhood, usually diagnosed between the ages of 2 and 5 years. Typically, it is manifested as an asymptomatic unilateral or upper abdominal mass. Abdimonal pain after some traumatic incident, fever, anemia, hematuria and hypertension are other patterns of presentation. In a considerable number of these patients, pulmonary metastases are present at the time of primary diagnosis. But, the initial presentation of acute pulmonary tumor emboli without surgical manipulation is very rare. We describe a sudden unexpected infantile death case diagnosed as pulmonary tumor embolism preexisting Wilms tumor. To our knowledge, this is the initial autopsy presentation of Wilms tumor with tumor embolism as sudden and unexpected death in Korea.

Key words: Sudden death, Pulmonary tumor embolism, Wilms tumor