Renal cell carcinoma of clear type: correlation of CT features with tumor size, architectural patterns, and pathologic staging

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to report the CT findings of renal cell carcinoma of clear type (RCCCT) and to determine if there are characteristic morphologic features in RCCCT with respect to tumor size, architectural patterns, and pathologic stage. The CT scans of 35 patients with RCCCT were reviewed retrospectively. The CT findings (tumor size, attenuation patterns, presence of calcifications, encapsulation, margins of neoplasms, venous involvement by neoplasms) were correlated with tumor size, architectural patterns, and pathologic staging. Of the 35 neoplasms, 28 (80 %) were solid, 4 (11 %) were papillary, and 3 (9 %) were cystic. Complete encapsulation was more frequent in lower pathologic stages (40 % in stages 1 and 2 vs 0 % in stages 3 and 4; p < 0.05). Venous involvement was less frequent with completely encapsulated neoplasms (0 of 10, 0 %) than with incompletely or nonencapsulated neoplasms (8 of 25, 32 %; p < 0.05). Encapsulated RCCCT are more likely to have lower pathologic stage. Nonencapsulated neoplasms are more likely to have a higher pathologic stage.

How accurate is helical CT volumetric assessment in renal tumors?

“…This is based on morphological characteristics of defined borders, pseudocapsules and mostly solid, non-friable composition leading to complete resection. The distinct enhancement of normal kidney tissue on timed contrastenhanced nephrographic images facilitates the differentiation between hyperdense normal kidney and hypodense tumor enabling accurate image tissue border delineation on imaging studies [11]. Therefore, we assumed that renal tumors would be a good model for tumor volume determination and validation.…”

Differentiation of Renal Clear Cell Carcinoma and Renal Papillary Carcinoma Using Quantitative CT Enhancement Parameters

“…Previous studies [7,[14][15][16] tried to describe and differentiate renal lesions according to morphologic criteria. Differentiation according to morphologic characteristics is possible in large lesions, but in small lesions it is often difficult.…”

Radiologic–pathologic correlations of intratumoral tissue components in the most common solid and cystic renal tumors. Pictorial review

“…10). coma and oncocytoma [10,29]. In a renal mass containing fat in addition to calcification, the possibility of RCC has to be seriously considered [29,30].…”

“…Cystic areas may be generally present so that the tumor has a frank cystic appearance. The cells are typically rich in glycogen, interspersed abundantly with thin-walled blood vessels and, when stained appear clear or lucent [9,10]. Well-differentiated tumors usually have a uniform pattern, predominantly of the alveolar or acinar variety, while solid sheets of neoplastic cells are characteristic of poorly differentiated neoplasms.…”