Kidney Cancer: Pathology: Difference between revisions

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== Classification of renal masses ==
== Classification of renal masses ==


=== 2016 WHO Classification of renal neoplasms (abbreviated)[https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26935559/] ===
=== 2016 WHO Classification of renal neoplasms[https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26935559/] ===
(abbreviated)
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|
|
* '''Renal cell tumours (16)'''
* '''<span style="color:#ff0000">Renal cell tumours (16)</span>'''
** Clear cell renal cell carcinoma
** Clear cell renal cell carcinoma
** Multilocular cystic renal neoplasm of low malignant potential
** Multilocular cystic renal neoplasm of low malignant potential
Line 28: Line 29:
** Metanephric adenofibroma
** Metanephric adenofibroma
** Metanephric stromal tumor
** Metanephric stromal tumor
.


* '''Nephroblastic and cystic tumors occurring mainly in children'''
* '''Nephroblastic and cystic tumors occurring mainly in children'''
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There are additional described entities not currently in WHO
There are additional described entities not currently in WHO


=== '''Classification by malignant vs. benign vs. inflammatory''' ===
=== Classification by malignant vs. benign vs. inflammatory ===
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|
|
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== Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) ==
== Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) ==


* '''Most common (>90%) non-metastatic malignant histology of kidney tumours'''
* '''<span style="color:#ff0000">Most common (>90%) non-metastatic malignant histology of kidney tumours</span>'''
** Most common benign tumours of the kidney include oncocytoma and angiomyolipoma (AML).
** Most common benign tumours of the kidney include oncocytoma and angiomyolipoma (AML).
* '''Most common renal tumour in pregnancy'''§
* '''<span style="color:#ff0000">Most common renal tumour in pregnancy[https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3756780/]</span>'''
* '''All RCCs are adenocarcinomas'''
* '''<span style="color:#ff0000">All RCCs are adenocarcinomas</span>'''
** '''Most are derived from renal tubular epithelial cells of the proximal convoluted tubule'''
** '''<span style="color:#ff0000">Most are derived from</span> renal tubular epithelial cells <span style="color:#ff0000">of the proximal convoluted tubule</span>'''
*** Exceptions include chromophobe, collecting duct, and medullary RCC (see below)
*** Exceptions include chromophobe, collecting duct, and medullary RCC (see below)


=== '''Subtypes''' ===
=== <span style="color:#ff0000">Subtypes</span> ===
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|'''Histology'''
|'''<span style="color:#ff0000">Histology</span>'''
|'''Characteristics'''
|'''<span style="color:#ff0000">Characteristics</span>'''
|'''Familial form and genetic factors'''
|'''<span style="color:#ff0000">Familial form and genetic factors</span>'''
|-
|-
|'''Clear cell RCC (ccRCC)'''
|'''<span style="color:#ff0000">Clear cell RCC (ccRCC)</span>'''


'''(70-80%, most common)'''
'''<span style="color:#ff0000">(70-80%, most common)</span>'''
|'''Originates from proximal tubule'''
|'''<span style="color:#ff0000">Originates from proximal tubule</span>'''


'''Prognosis generally worse compared to papillary or chromophobe'''
'''<span style="color:#ff0000">Prognosis generally worse compared to papillary or chromophobe</span>'''


'''Responds to systemic therapy'''
'''Responds to systemic therapy'''
|'''von Hippel-Lindau disease'''
|'''<span style="color:#ff0000">von Hippel-Lindau disease</span>'''


'''Chromosome 3p deletions''' (VHL inactivation by mutation or promoter hypermethylation occurs in 70-90% of clear cell renal tumors)
'''Chromosome 3p deletions''' (VHL inactivation by mutation or promoter hypermethylation occurs in 70-90% of clear cell renal tumors)
Line 183: Line 183:
|'''Identical to ccRCC'''
|'''Identical to ccRCC'''
|-
|-
|'''Papillary RCC'''
|'''<span style="color:#ff0000">Papillary RCC</span>'''


'''(10-15%, 2nd most common)'''
'''<span style="color:#ff0000">(10-15%, 2nd most common)</span>'''
|'''Originates from proximal tubule'''
|'''<span style="color:#ff0000">Originates from proximal tubule</span>'''


'''Commonly multifocal'''
'''<span style="color:#ff0000">Commonly multifocal</span>'''


'''Common in ESRD and acquired renal cystic disease'''
'''<span style="color:#ff0000">Common in ESRD and acquired renal cystic disease</span>'''


'''Type 1: good prognosis'''
'''<span style="color:#ff0000">Type 1: good prognosis</span>'''


'''Type 2: worse prognosis'''
'''<span style="color:#ff0000">Type 2: worse prognosis</span>'''


'''Grade may be of greater prognostic significance than type 1 vs. 2'''
'''Grade may be of greater prognostic significance than type 1 vs. 2'''


'''Current systemic therapies are ineffective against papillary RCC'''
'''<span style="color:#ff0000">Current systemic therapies are ineffective against papillary RCC</span>'''


Papillary adenomas are small (≤5mm) tumours that resemble papillary RCC under the microscope, are often well encapsulated and low grade, commonly found at autopsy, possess many of the same genetic alterations found in larger papillary RCCs, but are benign neoplasms
Papillary adenomas are small (≤5mm) tumours that resemble papillary RCC under the microscope, are often well encapsulated and low grade, commonly found at autopsy, possess many of the same genetic alterations found in larger papillary RCCs, but are benign neoplasms
|'''Type 1: Hereditary papillary RCC (HPRCC) syndrome'''
|'''<span style="color:#ff0000">Type 1: Hereditary papillary RCC (HPRCC) syndrome</span>'''


'''Type 2: Hereditary leiomyomatosis and RCC syndrome (HLRCC)'''
'''<span style="color:#ff0000">Type 2: Hereditary leiomyomatosis and RCC syndrome (HLRCC)</span>'''


'''Trisomy of chromosomes 7 and 17 and loss of the Y chromosome.'''
'''Trisomy of chromosomes 7 and 17 and loss of the Y chromosome.'''
|-
|-
|'''Chromophobe RCC'''
|'''<span style="color:#ff0000">Chromophobe RCC</span>'''


'''(3-5%)'''
'''<span style="color:#ff0000">(3-5%)</span>'''
|'''Originates from''' intercalated cells of '''distal tubule/collecting duct'''
|'''<span style="color:#ff0000">Originates from</span>''' intercalated cells of '''<span style="color:#ff0000">distal tubule/collecting duct</span>'''


'''Stains positive for Hale colloidal iron'''
'''Stains positive for Hale colloidal iron'''


'''Genrally good prognosis''', compared to clear cell and papillary
'''<span style="color:#ff0000">Generally good prognosis</span>''', compared to clear cell and papillary


* Rates of disease-specific (recurrence, metastasis, or death due disease) events following nephrectomy:§
* Rates of disease-specific (recurrence, metastasis, or death due disease) events following nephrectomy:[https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21602658/]
** 5 years: 3.7%
** 5 years: 3.7%
** 10 years: 6.4%
** 10 years: 6.4%
* Features associated with disease-specific events (4):§
* Features associated with disease-specific events (4):[https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21602658/]
*# Tumour size
*# Tumour size
*# Small-vessel invasion
*# Small-vessel invasion
Line 225: Line 225:
*# Microscopic necrosis
*# Microscopic necrosis
** pT stage or nodal metastasis tended to show some association, without reaching statistical significance
** pT stage or nodal metastasis tended to show some association, without reaching statistical significance
|'''Commonly seen Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome; most cases are sporadic'''
|'''<span style="color:#ff0000">Commonly seen Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome;</span> most cases are sporadic'''
|-
|-
|'''Collecting duct carcinoma (<1%)'''
|'''<span style="color:#ff0000">Collecting duct carcinoma (<1%)</span>'''
|'''Originates from collecting duct'''
|'''<span style="color:#ff0000">Originates from collecting duct</span>'''


'''Stains positive with Ulex europaeus lectin'''
'''Stains positive with Ulex europaeus lectin'''
Line 239: Line 239:
Multiple chromosomal losses
Multiple chromosomal losses
|-
|-
|'''Renal medullary carcinoma (rare)'''
|'''<span style="color:#ff0000">Renal medullary carcinoma</span> (rare)'''
|'''Originates from collecting duct'''
|'''<span style="color:#ff0000">Originates from collecting duct</span>'''


'''Dismal prognosis'''; '''many cases are both locally advanced and metastatic at the time of diagnosis'''
'''Dismal prognosis'''; '''many cases are both locally advanced and metastatic at the time of diagnosis'''
|'''Associated with sickle cell trait (NOT disease);''' typically diagnosed in young African-Americans
|'''<span style="color:#ff0000">Associated with sickle cell trait (NOT disease);</span>''' typically diagnosed in young African-Americans
|-
|-
|'''Unclassified RCC'''
|'''Unclassified RCC'''
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|}
|}


=== '''Other histologic features''' ===
=== <span style="color:#ff0000">Other histologic features</span> ===


* '''Sarcomatoid differentiation'''
* '''<span style="color:#ff0000">Sarcomatoid differentiation</span>'''
** Found in 1-5% of RCCs
** Found in 1-5% of RCCs
** '''Not a distinct histologic subtype of RCC''', '''most commonly in association with ccRCC and chromophobe RCC'''
** '''Not a distinct histologic subtype of RCC''', '''<span style="color:#ff0000">most commonly in association with ccRCC and chromophobe RCC</span>'''
** '''Associated with worse prognosis; multimodal approaches should be considered'''
** '''<span style="color:#ff0000">Associated with worse prognosis;</span> multimodal approaches should be considered'''
* '''Cystic degeneration'''
* '''Cystic degeneration'''
** Found in 10-25% of RCCs
** Found in 10-25% of RCCs
Line 287: Line 287:


* '''Laterality and focality'''
* '''Laterality and focality'''
** '''Most sporadic RCCs are unilateral and unifocal'''
** '''<span style="color:#ff0000">Most sporadic RCCs are unilateral and unifocal</span>'''
** '''Bilateral involvement'''
** '''<span style="color:#ff0000">Bilateral involvement</span>'''
*** Occurs in 2-4% of sporadic RCCs
*** Occurs in 2-4% of sporadic RCCs
**** '''More common in patients with familial forms of RCC ('''e.g'''.''' von Hippel-Lindau disease).
**** '''More common in patients with familial forms of RCC ('''e.g'''.''' von Hippel-Lindau disease).
*** Can be synchronous or asynchronous
*** Can be synchronous or asynchronous
**** '''If synchronous, likely an independent growth'''
**** '''<span style="color:#ff0000">If synchronous, likely an independent growth</span>'''
**** '''If asynchronous, likely a metastasis'''
**** '''<span style="color:#ff0000">If asynchronous, likely a metastasis</span>'''
** '''Multifocality'''
** '''<span style="color:#ff0000">Multifocality'''
*** '''Occurs in 10-20% of cases'''
*** '''<span style="color:#ff0000">Occurs in 10-20% of cases</span>'''
*** '''More common with papillary histology and familial RCC'''
*** '''<span style="color:#ff0000">More common with papillary histology and familial RCC</span>'''
*** '''Microsatellite analysis suggests a clonal origin for most multifocal RCC'''
*** '''<span style="color:#ff0000">Microsatellite analysis suggests a clonal origin for most multifocal RCC</span>'''
 
== Familial RCC Syndromes ==
 
* '''All are autosomal dominant'''
* '''Account for ≈4-6% of cases of RCC overall'''
 
{| class="wikitable"
|'''Syndrome'''
|'''Gene'''
|'''Clinical Manifestations'''
|-
|'''Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL)'''
|'''VHL'''
|'''HIPPPEEL'''
 
# '''CNS and/or retinal Hemangioblastomas'''
# '''ccRCC (Increased risk) and renal cysts'''
# '''Pheochromocytoma'''
# '''Paraganglioma'''
# '''Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours and cysts'''
# '''Epididymal cystadenoma'''
# '''Ear Endolymphatic sac tumour'''
# '''Broad Ligament tumours'''
|-
|'''Hereditary Papillary Renal Carcinoma (HPRCC)'''
|'''''c-MET'''''
|
# '''Type 1 papillary RCC'''
|-
|'''Hereditary Leiomyomatosis and RCC (HLRCC)*'''
|'''Fumarate hydratase'''
|
# '''Type 2 papillary or collecting duct RCC'''
# '''Cutaneous leioyomyomas'''
 
# '''Uterine leiyomyomas'''
|-
|'''Birt-Hogg-Dube (BHD)'''
|'''Folliculin'''
|
# '''Skin fibrofolliculomas'''
# '''Pulmonary cysts, spontaneous pneumothoraces'''
# '''Variety of renal tumours (including chromophobe RCC, oncocytoma, hybrid oncocytic/chromophobe tumors, clear cell RCC (rare), renal cysts)'''
|-
|'''Succinate Dehydrogenase RCC*'''
|'''''SDHB/C/D (encoding subunits of the Krebs cycle enzyme succinate dehydrogenase)'''''
|
# '''Variety of renal tumours (clear cell RCC, chromophobe RCC, type 2 papillary RCC, oncocytoma)'''
# '''Adrenal pheochromocytoma/paraganglioma'''
|-
|'''Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC)'''
|'''''TSC1/2'''''
|
# '''Skin (adenoma subaceum, shagreen spots)'''
# '''Variety of renal tumours (increased predisposition for ccRCC, AMLs, renal cysts, polycystic kidney disease, oncycytoma)'''
# '''Retinal hamartomas'''
# '''CNS lesions (including tubers)'''
# '''Seizures'''
# '''Intellectual disability'''
# '''Cardiac lesions'''
# '''Teeth/gum lesions'''
# '''Bone cysts'''
# '''Pulmonary lymphangiomyomatosis'''
|-
|'''Cowden/PTEN Syndrome Associated RCC'''
|'''''PTEN'''''
|
* '''Mucocutaneous lesions'''
* '''Facial trichilemmomas'''
* '''Papillomatous papules'''
* '''Variety of renal tumours (ccRCC, type 1 papillary RCC, chromophobe RCC)'''
* '''Malignancies in other organ systems (breast, thyroid)'''
|-
|'''BAP-1 tumour predisposition syndrome'''§
|'''BAP1'''
|
* '''ccRCC'''
* '''Uveal melanoma'''
* '''Malignant mesothelioma'''
* '''Cutaneous melanoma'''
* '''Melanocytic tumours'''
* '''Basal cell carcinoma'''
|-
| colspan="3" |'''*Renal cancers associated with these syndromes are typically more aggressive'''
|}
 
* '''Von Hippel-Lindau Disease'''
** Incidence 1:30,000-1:40,000
** '''RCC develops in 35-70% of VHL patients and is''' '''distinctive for early age (median 40) of onset and bilateral and multifocal involvement'''
** '''Mutation: VHL'''
*** '''VHL is a tumor suppressor gene,''' for both familial and sporadic ccRCC, at '''chromosome 3'''p25-26
**** '''VHL mutation is most common genetic mutation in sporadic RCC'''§
*** Under normal conditions, the '''VHL complex targets hypoxia-inducible factors (HIF) for degradation''', keeping levels of HIF low. HIF regulates response to hypoxia, starvation, and other stresses
*** '''In the absence of VHL, HIF accumulates and leads to overexpression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), the primary angiogenic growth factor in RCC''', contributing to the neovascularity associated with ccRCC.
**** Production of erythropoietin (EPO) is closely associated with circulating oxygen levels. During conditions of hypoxia, hypoxia-inducible factor-1-alpha (HIF-1-a) is upregulated increasing EPO transcription. HIF-1-a is then rapidly degraded by proteases upon restoration of normal oxygen tension.
** '''Pheochromocytoma manifestations of VHL are restricted to certain families (type 2 VHL)'''
** '''Patients suspected of having VHL, or the appropriate relatives of those with documented disease, should strongly consider genetic evaluation.'''
*** Patients with germline mutations of the VHL gene can be offered screening to identify major manifestations of VHL at a pre-symptomatic phase
** '''RCC is most common cause of death in VHL patients'''
 
* '''Hereditary Papillary Renal Cell Carcinoma (HPRCC)'''
** Tumours tend to be '''less aggressive''' than their sporadic counterparts
** '''Most of the mutations in HPRCC have been found in the tyrosine kinase domain of met and lead to constitutive activation of the receptor for hepatocyte growth factor'''
 
* '''Hereditary leiomyomatosis and RCC syndrome (HLRCC)'''
** '''Almost all individuals with this syndrome will develop cutaneous leiomyomas and uterine fibroids (if female),''' usually manifesting at the age of 20-35 years.
*** '''A high proportion of women have had a hysterectomy for fibroids before formal diagnosis of HLRCC'''.
** '''Only a minority (20%) of HLRCC patients develop RCC'''
*** Penetrance for RCC in HLRCC is lower than for the cutaneous and uterine manifestations
** Unlike other familial syndromes, '''tumours with this syndrome tend to be unilateral, solitary, and''' '''more aggressive'''; therefore, '''prompt surgical management is indicated'''
 
* '''Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC)'''
** Classic triad:
**# Seizures
**# Adenoma sebaceum
**# Intellectual disability
*** May not be present due to variable penetrance of the TSC mutation
** '''50% of patients with TSC develop AMLs'''


== Grade ==
== Grade ==
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** Sarcomatoid and rhabdoid tumors, tumors with giant cells, and tumors with extreme nuclear pleomorphism are included within grade 4 tumors.
** Sarcomatoid and rhabdoid tumors, tumors with giant cells, and tumors with extreme nuclear pleomorphism are included within grade 4 tumors.
** Chromophobe RCC is no longer graded in the ISUP system.
** Chromophobe RCC is no longer graded in the ISUP system.
* In general, higher grade is associated with larger tumor size and more aggressive tumors.
* In general, higher grade is associated with larger tumor size and more aggressive tumors.</span>
 
== Questions ==
== Questions ==


# What the prognosis of ccRCC relative to chromophobe and papillary RCC? Which papillary RCC subtype is associated with better prognosis relative to the other?
# What the prognosis of ccRCC relative to chromophobe and papillary RCC? Which papillary RCC subtype is associated with better prognosis relative to the other?
# Patients with ESRD or acquired renal cystic disease are more likely to develop with type of RCC?
# Patients with ESRD or acquired renal cystic disease are more likely to develop which type of RCC?
# Which RCC histology stains for Hale colloidal iron?
# Which RCC histology stains for Hale colloidal iron?
# Which RCC histologies arise from the proximal tubule vs. collecting duct?
# Which RCC histologies arise from the proximal tubule vs. collecting duct?
# What are the clinical manifestations of VHL?
# What gene is mutated and what are the clinical manifestations of HRPCC, HLPCC, Burt-Hogg-Dube, Tuberous Sclerosis Complex?
# Explain the pathway of VHL and HIF and role in RCC pathophysiology


== Answers ==
== Answers ==
Line 456: Line 334:
### Collecting duct
### Collecting duct
### Medullary
### Medullary
# What are the clinical manifestations of VHL?
## Hemangioblastoma
## Increased risk of ccRCC
## Paraganglioma
## Pheochromocyoma
## Pancreatic cysts and neuroendocrine tumours
## Ear endolymphatic tumour
## Epididymal cysts
## Ligament, broad tumours
# What gene is mutated and what are the clinical manifestations of HRPCC, HLPCC, Burt-Hogg-Dube, Tuberous Sclerosis Complex?
#* HRPCC: c-met; clinical manifestations: type I papillary RCC
#* HLPCC: fumarate hydratase; clinical manifestations; type II papillary RCC, cutaneous leiyomyoma and uterine leiyomyoma
#* Burt-Hogg-Dube: folliculin; clinical manifestations: pneumothorax, pulmonary cysts, skin fibrofolliculuomas, chromophobe RCC and other renal tumours
#* Tuberous sclerosis complex: TSC1 and TSC2; clinical manifestations: adenoma subaceum, shagreen spots, AMLs, ccRCC, retinal hamartomas, CNS lesions, epilepsy, mental retardation, cardiac lesions, teeth lesions, gum lesions, bone cysts, pulmonary lymphangiomyomatosis
# Explain the pathway of VHL and HIF and role in RCC pathophysiology
#* Under normal conditions, VHL targets hypoxia-induced factor (HIF) for degradation. In the absence of VHL due to mutation, HIF accumulates resulting in increased expression of VEGF, the primary angiogenic growth factor for RCC


== Next Chapter: TNM Staging ==
== Next Chapter: [[Kidney Cancer: TNM Staging|TNM Staging]] ==


== References ==
== References ==

Latest revision as of 12:03, 17 March 2024


Classification of renal masses[edit | edit source]

2016 WHO Classification of renal neoplasms[1][edit | edit source]

(abbreviated)

  • Renal cell tumours (16)
    • Clear cell renal cell carcinoma
    • Multilocular cystic renal neoplasm of low malignant potential
    • Papillary renal cell carcinoma
    • Hereditary leiomyomatosis and renal cell carcinoma associated renal cell carcinoma
    • Chromophobe renal cell carcinoma
    • Collecting duct carcinoma
    • Renal medullary carcinoma
    • MiT family translocation renal cell carcinomas
    • Succinate dehydrogenase deficient renal cell carcinoma
    • Mucinous tubular and spindle cell carcinoma
    • Tubulocystic renal cell carcinoma
    • Acquired cystic disease associated renal cell carcinoma
    • Clear cell papillary renal cell carcinoma
    • Renal cell carcinoma, unclassified
    • Papillary adenoma
    • Oncocytoma
  • Metanephric tumors
    • Metanephric adenoma
    • Metanephric adenofibroma
    • Metanephric stromal tumor
  • Nephroblastic and cystic tumors occurring mainly in children
    • Nephrogenic rests
    • Nephroblastoma
    • Cystic partially differentiated nephroblastoma
    • Pediatric cystic nephroma
  • Mesenchymal tumors occurring mainly in children
    • Clear cell sarcoma
    • Rhabdoid tumor
    • Congenital mesoblastic nephroma
    • Ossifying renal tumor of infancy
  • Mesenchymal tumors occurring mainly in adults
    • Leiomyosarcoma (including renal vein leiomyosarcoma)
    • Angiosarcoma
    • Rhabdomyosarcoma
    • Osteosarcoma
    • Synovial sarcoma
    • Ewing sarcoma
    • Angiomyolipoma
    • Epithelioid angiomyolipoma
    • Leiomyoma
    • Hemangioma
    • Lymphangioma
    • Hemangioblastoma
    • Juxtaglomerular cell tumor
    • Renomedullary interstitial cell tumor
    • Schwannoma
    • Solitary fibrous tumor
    • Mixed epithelial and stromal tumor family
    • Adult cystic nephroma
    • Mixed epithelial and stromal tumor
  • Neuroendocrine tumors
    • Well differentiated neuroendocrine tumor
    • Large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma
    • Small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma
    • Paraganglioma
  • Miscellaneous tumors
    • Renal hematopoietic neoplasms
    • Germ cell tumors
  • Metastatic tumors
  • Tumor-like lesions
    • Xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis
    • IgG4 related disease

There are additional described entities not currently in WHO

Classification by malignant vs. benign vs. inflammatory[edit | edit source]

  • Malignant
    • Renal cell carcinoma (RCC)
      1. Clear cell RCC
      2. Multilocular cystic renal neoplasm of low malignant potential
      3. Papillary RCC
      4. Hereditary leiomyomatosis RCC
      5. Chromophobe RCC
      6. Collecting duct carcinoma
      7. Renal medullary carcinoma
      8. MiT Family translocation carcinomas
      9. Succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) deficient RCC
      10. Mucinous tubular and spindle cell carcinoma
      11. Tubulocystic RCC
      12. Acquired cystic disease associated RCC
      13. Clear cell papillary RCC
      14. RCC, unclassified
    • Urothelium-based cancers
      • Urothelial carcinoma
      • Squamous cell carcinoma
      • Adenocarcinoma
    • Sarcomas
      • Leiomyosarcoma
      • Liposarcoma
      • Angiosarcoma
      • Hemangiopericytoma
      • Malignant fibrous histiocytoma
      • Synovial sarcoma
      • Osteogenic sarcoma
      • Clear cell sarcoma
      • Rhabdomyosarcoma
    • Wilms tumor
    • Primitive neuroectodermal tumor
    • Carcinoid tumor
    • Lymphoma/leukemia
    • Metastasis
    • Invasion by adjacent neoplasm
  • Benign
    • Cystic lesions
      • Simple cyst
      • Hemorrhagic cyst
    • Solid lesions
      • Angiomyolipoma
      • Oncocytoma
      • Renal adenoma
      • Metanephric adenoma
      • Cystic nephroma
      • Mixed epithelial-stromal tumor
      • Reninoma (juxtaglomerular cell tumor)
      • Leiomyoma
      • Fibroma
      • Hemangioma
    • Vascular lesions
      • Renal artery aneurysm
      • Arteriovenous malformation
    • Pseudotumor
  • Inflammatory
    • Abscess
    • Focal pyelonephritis
    • Xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis
    • Infected renal cyst
    • Tuberculosis
    • Rheumatic granuloma

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC)[edit | edit source]

  • Most common (>90%) non-metastatic malignant histology of kidney tumours
    • Most common benign tumours of the kidney include oncocytoma and angiomyolipoma (AML).
  • Most common renal tumour in pregnancy[2]
  • All RCCs are adenocarcinomas
    • Most are derived from renal tubular epithelial cells of the proximal convoluted tubule
      • Exceptions include chromophobe, collecting duct, and medullary RCC (see below)

Subtypes[edit | edit source]

Histology Characteristics Familial form and genetic factors
Clear cell RCC (ccRCC)

(70-80%, most common)

Originates from proximal tubule

Prognosis generally worse compared to papillary or chromophobe

Responds to systemic therapy

von Hippel-Lindau disease

Chromosome 3p deletions (VHL inactivation by mutation or promoter hypermethylation occurs in 70-90% of clear cell renal tumors)

Multilocular cystic

ccRCC

(uncommon)

Almost uniformly benign clinical behavior Identical to ccRCC
Papillary RCC

(10-15%, 2nd most common)

Originates from proximal tubule

Commonly multifocal

Common in ESRD and acquired renal cystic disease

Type 1: good prognosis

Type 2: worse prognosis

Grade may be of greater prognostic significance than type 1 vs. 2

Current systemic therapies are ineffective against papillary RCC

Papillary adenomas are small (≤5mm) tumours that resemble papillary RCC under the microscope, are often well encapsulated and low grade, commonly found at autopsy, possess many of the same genetic alterations found in larger papillary RCCs, but are benign neoplasms

Type 1: Hereditary papillary RCC (HPRCC) syndrome

Type 2: Hereditary leiomyomatosis and RCC syndrome (HLRCC)

Trisomy of chromosomes 7 and 17 and loss of the Y chromosome.

Chromophobe RCC

(3-5%)

Originates from intercalated cells of distal tubule/collecting duct

Stains positive for Hale colloidal iron

Generally good prognosis, compared to clear cell and papillary

  • Rates of disease-specific (recurrence, metastasis, or death due disease) events following nephrectomy:[3]
    • 5 years: 3.7%
    • 10 years: 6.4%
  • Features associated with disease-specific events (4):[4]
    1. Tumour size
    2. Small-vessel invasion
    3. Sarcomatoid features
    4. Microscopic necrosis
    • pT stage or nodal metastasis tended to show some association, without reaching statistical significance
 Commonly seen Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome; most cases are sporadic
Collecting duct carcinoma (<1%) Originates from collecting duct

Stains positive with Ulex europaeus lectin

Poor prognosis; most reported cases have been high grade, advanced stage, and unresponsive to conventional therapies

May share features in common with urothelial carcinoma; advanced collecting duct carcinoma may respond to cisplatin or gemcitabine-based chemotherapy

Unknown

Multiple chromosomal losses

Renal medullary carcinoma (rare) Originates from collecting duct

Dismal prognosis; many cases are both locally advanced and metastatic at the time of diagnosis

Associated with sickle cell trait (NOT disease); typically diagnosed in young African-Americans
Unclassified RCC

(1%-3%)

Origin not defined

Poor prognosis, most are poorly differentiated and are associated with a highly aggressive biologic behavior

Unknown
RCC associated with Xp11.2

translocations/TFE3

gene fusions (rare)

Occurs in children and young adults; 40% of pediatric RCC

Prognosis similar to ccRCC

Various mutations involving chromosome Xp11.2

resulting in TFE3 gene fusion

Post-neuroblastoma

RCC (rare)

Occurs exclusively in children with prior neuroblastoma Unknown
Mucinous tubular and spindle cell (rare) Favorable prognosis Unknown

Other histologic features[edit | edit source]

  • Sarcomatoid differentiation
    • Found in 1-5% of RCCs
    • Not a distinct histologic subtype of RCC, most commonly in association with ccRCC and chromophobe RCC
    • Associated with worse prognosis; multimodal approaches should be considered
  • Cystic degeneration
    • Found in 10-25% of RCCs
    • Associated with better prognosis compared with purely solid RCC
  • Laterality and focality
    • Most sporadic RCCs are unilateral and unifocal
    • Bilateral involvement
      • Occurs in 2-4% of sporadic RCCs
        • More common in patients with familial forms of RCC (e.g. von Hippel-Lindau disease).
      • Can be synchronous or asynchronous
        • If synchronous, likely an independent growth
        • If asynchronous, likely a metastasis
    • Multifocality
      • Occurs in 10-20% of cases
      • More common with papillary histology and familial RCC
      • Microsatellite analysis suggests a clonal origin for most multifocal RCC

Grade[edit | edit source]

  • Based primarily on nuclear size, shape, and presence of predominant nucleoli
  • Fuhrman Grading system
    • Described in 1982
  • International Society of Urological Pathology (ISUP) Grading system
    • Proposed in 2012, updated in 2016
    • Incorporates aspects of the Fuhrman Grading system but includes more objective criteria for nuclear characteristics.
    • Sarcomatoid and rhabdoid tumors, tumors with giant cells, and tumors with extreme nuclear pleomorphism are included within grade 4 tumors.
    • Chromophobe RCC is no longer graded in the ISUP system.
  • In general, higher grade is associated with larger tumor size and more aggressive tumors.

Questions[edit | edit source]

  1. What the prognosis of ccRCC relative to chromophobe and papillary RCC? Which papillary RCC subtype is associated with better prognosis relative to the other?
  2. Patients with ESRD or acquired renal cystic disease are more likely to develop which type of RCC?
  3. Which RCC histology stains for Hale colloidal iron?
  4. Which RCC histologies arise from the proximal tubule vs. collecting duct?

Answers[edit | edit source]

  1. What the prognosis of ccRCC relative to chromophobe and papillary RCC? Which papillary RCC subtype is associated with better prognosis relative to the other?
    • Prognosis of ccRCC is worse than chromophobe and papillary RCC
    • Type II papillary RCC has worse prognosis than type I
  2. Patients with ESRD or acquired renal cystic disease are more likely to develop with type of RCC?
    • Papillary
  3. Which RCC histology stains for Hale colloidal iron?
    • Chromophobe
  4. Which RCC histologies arise from the proximal tubule vs. collecting duct?
    1. Proximal tubule:
      1. Clear cell
      2. Papillary
    2. Collecting duct
      1. Chromophobe
      2. Collecting duct
      3. Medullary

Next Chapter: TNM Staging[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  • Wein AJ, Kavoussi LR, Partin AW, Peters CA (eds): CAMPBELL-WALSH UROLOGY, ed 11. Philadelphia, Elsevier, 2015, chap 57
  • Campbell, Steven C., et al. "Renal Mass and Localized Renal Cancer: Evaluation, Management, and Follow-Up: AUA Guideline Part I." The Journal of urology (2021): 10-1097.
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