[Wilms' tumor in adults].

We report on a 42-year-old patient with a Wilms tumour (nephroblastoma) of the right kidney, which was detected incidentally by sonography. Both radiological examination and intraoperative examination of a quick-frozen section led to a diagnosis of malignant renal tumour. Post-operative histological examination showed a nephroblastoma of predominantly epithelial cell type with no signs of anaplasia. Only about 210 cases of Wilms tumours in adults have been reported in the world literature so far. Because of this low incidence and the frequent lack of any clear distinction from sarcomatoid renal cell carcinoma in terminology and histology, no standardized therapy regimens exist. The prognosis with a 3-year survival rate of 24%-44% is poor compared with that of Wilms tumours in children. In a literature review the current status of knowledge about nephroblastomas in adults is discussed.