Histo-pathologic Characteristics of Cystic Renal Cell Carcinoma / 대한비뇨기과학회지

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: No consistent histo-pathological characteristics of cystic renal cell carcinomas have previously been determined. In this study, attempts were made at our hospital to evaluate the histopathological characteristics of this cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The medical records of 451 patients with renal cell carcinomas, having undergone a radical nephrectomy, between January 1995 and April 2002, were retrospectively reviewed. The renal cell carcinomas were classified, according to the criteria of the World Health Organization, as a cystic renal cell carcinoma in 31 of these patients (6.8%). The tumor size, nuclear grade and pathological stage were investigated. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 52 years, ranging from 35 to 75. Cancer stages were T1, T2 and T3 in 26 (84%), 3 (10%) and 2 (6%) patients, respectively. The nuclear grade and pathological stage were lower in patients with a cystic renal cell carcinoma. CONCLUSIONS: 81% of the cystic renal cell carcinoma cases were diagnosed incidentally. The cystic renal cell carcinomas were usually detected at lower stages and grades, and therefore were associated with a better prognosis than the renal cell carcinomas.