n WHAT TESTS AND PROCEDURES WILL MY CHILD NEED? To diagnose Wilms tumor and determine the extent of your child’s disease, a number of tests and procedures are necessary, including many of the following.
Ultrasound Ultrasound uses the echoes from high-frequency sound waves to produce a picture of internal organs or tumors. It can help find tumors in the belly. It also can reveal a lot about the health of the kidneys and bladder. It is used to measure the size of some organs, especially the liver and spleen. The ultrasound can show the blood flow through the veins and whether the blood flow is blocked by a clot. This test is
sometimes done when there is a clot in the arm or leg. Doppler is a type of ultrasound used to look at the way blood flows and the condition of the blood vessels, or to diagnose clots in blood vessels. It is a painless test and uses no radiation. The child lies on a table for a short time. A cold, clear jelly is smeared on the area being examined, and it wipes off easily after the test. A small, round handle is placed on the jelly and moved around to get a clear picture of the tissue or organ. If the ultrasound is of the belly, the child may not be permitted to eat or drink for several hours before the test. X Ray An X ray is a simple test done to look for something abnormal, such as a broken bone. Regular X rays, which may be referred to as plain films , are taken of the affected area and any other areas of concern. Efforts will be made to minimize your child’s exposure to the radiation of X rays. An X ray is one form of radiation that can be used at low levels to produce an image of the body on film. CT or CT Scan The CT (computerized or computed tomography) scan, which is sometimes called a CAT (computerized axial tomography) scan, creates detailed pictures of internal organs and tumors. It is a computer-assisted X ray. The CT scan machine is a table surrounded by a doughnut-shaped X-ray camera. Every second, that camera moves a very small distance around the patient while taking an X ray. Then a computer puts these X rays together to help the doctors see a cross-sectional, 3-D image from all angles. CT scans are very useful in diagnosing tumors, infections, blood clots, and areas of abnormal bleeding. Certain tumors are regularly checked by CT scan during and after treatment to determine the effectiveness or if there is a relapse. CT scans are painless. Some children require sedation to help them lie still during the scan. If the child is having a CT scan of their belly, they will be asked to drink a special dye that makes the pictures more easily seen. Some children may require a small amount of dye to be injected through an intravenous (IV) line as well. If your child receives the dye into their vein, they may have a warm, flushing feeling. Generally, there are no side effects from either type of dye; however, allergic reactions are possible. There is some radiation exposure with this test. Your child’s healthcare team will try to minimize how often it is done, but it is very helpful in diagnosing and following the stage and location of the cancer.
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