Radiation arteritis following treatment for Wilms’ tumor: an unusual case of weight loss

Abstract

Wilms’ tumor is the most common pediatric primary renal cancer and is highly responsive to surgery and chemotherapy. The role of radiotherapy has evolved in the last three decades from the use of stepwise incremental doses in all patients to the current concept of added radiotherapy in advanced cases or in those with unfavorable pathology. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first case of a young woman with prior history of Wilms’ tumor and significant weight loss due to radiation arteritis involving the abdominal vasculature. A 31-year-old woman presented with a history of weight loss and severe malnutrition. An angiogram revealed that the aorta was occluded below the renal artery. The celiac artery and the superior mesenteric artery were occluded at the origin, and large intercostal collaterals reconstituted the pelvic circulation. She was initially treated with total parenteral nutrition (TPN) and underwent an infrarenal aortic bypass surgery. Histopathology of the aorta revealed intimal fibrocalcific thickening and changes consistent with radiation-induced arteritis. Later, she was readmitted with progressive hepatic insufficiency. Despite intensive medical therapy, she died of multi-organ failure.