What diagnostic procedure is recommended for Wilms tumor?

The recommended diagnostic procedure for Wilms tumor is an abdominal ultrasound. This imaging technique is particularly useful because it is non-invasive, does not involve radiation exposure, and is effective in assessing kidney masses in children, which is where Wilms tumors typically arise. Abdominal ultrasound can help differentiate between solid tumors, cysts, and other abdominal masses, making it an ideal first step in the evaluation of suspected Wilms tumor in pediatric patients.

While CT scans and MRIs are also valuable imaging modalities that can provide detailed information about the tumor's size, location, and potential metastasis, they are generally not the first-line diagnostic tools due to concerns about radiation exposure in children and cost considerations. A chest X-ray may be used in the workup for metastasis, but it does not directly assess the renal mass. Therefore, the abdominal ultrasound is favored initially to evaluate suspected Wilms tumor effectively.