Difference between revisions of "Clear cell renal cell carcinoma"

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{{ Infobox diagnosis
{{ Infobox diagnosis
| Name      = {{PAGENAME}}
| Name      = {{PAGENAME}}
| Image      = Clear_cell_renal_cell_carcinoma_high_mag.jpg
| Image      = Clear cell renal cell carcinoma - 2 -- high mag.jpg
| Width      =
| Width      =
| Caption    = Clear cell renal cell carcinoma. [[H&E stain]].
| Caption    = Clear cell renal cell carcinoma. [[H&E stain]].
| Micro      = Solid or [[trabecular]] pattern, polygonal cells usually with clear cytoplasm, central nucleus, delicate branching vasculature (chicken wire-like), +/-hyaline bodies
| Synonyms  = conventional renal cell carcinoma
| Subtypes  = eosinophilic variant
| Micro      = solid or [[trabecular]] pattern, polygonal cells usually with clear cytoplasm (may be eosinophilic - esp. in high grade tumours), central nucleus, delicate branching vasculature (chicken wire-like), +/-hyaline bodies
| LMDDx      = [[chromophobe renal cell carcinoma]], [[clear cell papillary renal cell carcinoma]], [[Xp11.2 translocation carcinoma]], [[Adrenocortical carcinoma]], [[alveolar soft part sarcoma]]
| Subtypes  =  
| LMDDx      = [[chromophobe renal cell carcinoma]], [[clear cell papillary renal cell carcinoma]], [[Xp11.2 translocation carcinoma]], [[adrenocortical carcinoma]], [[alveolar soft part sarcoma]]
| Stains    = [[Hale's colloidal iron stain]] -ve
| Stains    = [[Hale's colloidal iron stain]] -ve
| IHC        = CK7 -ve, CK20 -ve, TFE3 -ve
| IHC        = [[CA9]] +ve, CK7 -ve, CK20 -ve, TFE3 -ve, PAX8 +ve, vimentin +ve
| EM        =
| EM        =
| Molecular  =
| Molecular  =
| IF        =
| IF        =
| Gross      =
| Gross      = golden/yellow colour, +/-hemorrhagic, +/-cystic, +/-[[necrosis]]
| Grossing  =
| Grossing  = [[total nephrectomy for tumour grossing]], [[partial nephrectomy grossing]]
| Staging    = [[kidney cancer staging]]
| Site      = [[kidney]] - see [[kidney tumours]]
| Site      = [[kidney]] - see [[kidney tumours]]
| Assdx      =
| Assdx      =
Line 27: Line 29:
| Other      =
| Other      =
| ClinDDx    = other [[renal tumours]]
| ClinDDx    = other [[renal tumours]]
| Tx        = surgery, targeted therapies, other drugs
}}
}}
'''Clear cell renal cell carcinoma''', abbreviated '''CRCC''' or '''CCRCC''', is the most common type of [[renal cell carcinoma]].
'''Clear cell renal cell carcinoma''', abbreviated '''CCRCC''', is the most common type of [[renal cell carcinoma]].
 
It is also known as '''conventional renal cell carcinoma''' (abbreviated '''CRCC''').


==General==
==General==
*Most common subtype of [[RCC]].
*Most common subtype of [[RCC]].
*May be associated with [[Von Hippel-Lindau syndrome]].
*May be associated with [[Von Hippel-Lindau syndrome]].
*Familial clear cell renal cell carcinoma.<ref name=pmid23972705>{{Cite journal  | last1 = Keefe | first1 = SM. | last2 = Nathanson | first2 = KL. | last3 = Rathmell | first3 = WK. | title = The molecular biology of renal cell carcinoma. | journal = Semin Oncol | volume = 40 | issue = 4 | pages = 421-8 | month = Aug | year = 2013 | doi = 10.1053/j.seminoncol.2013.05.006 | PMID = 23972705 }}</ref>
*Familial clear cell renal cell carcinoma<ref name=pmid23972705>{{Cite journal  | last1 = Keefe | first1 = SM. | last2 = Nathanson | first2 = KL. | last3 = Rathmell | first3 = WK. | title = The molecular biology of renal cell carcinoma. | journal = Semin Oncol | volume = 40 | issue = 4 | pages = 421-8 | month = Aug | year = 2013 | doi = 10.1053/j.seminoncol.2013.05.006 | PMID = 23972705 }}</ref> - usually VHL gene mutation.<ref name=pmid17205537>{{Cite journal  | last1 = Foster | first1 = RE. | last2 = Abdulrahman | first2 = M. | last3 = Morris | first3 = MR. | last4 = Prigmore | first4 = E. | last5 = Gribble | first5 = S. | last6 = Ng | first6 = B. | last7 = Gentle | first7 = D. | last8 = Ready | first8 = S. | last9 = Weston | first9 = PM. | title = Characterization of a 3;6 translocation associated with renal cell carcinoma. | journal = Genes Chromosomes Cancer | volume = 46 | issue = 4 | pages = 311-7 | month = Apr | year = 2007 | doi = 10.1002/gcc.20403 | PMID = 17205537 }}</ref>
**''VHL gene mutation'' not in all cases.<ref>{{Cite journal  | last1 = Woodward | first1 = ER. | last2 = Clifford | first2 = SC. | last3 = Astuti | first3 = D. | last4 = Affara | first4 = NA. | last5 = Maher | first5 = ER. | title = Familial clear cell renal cell carcinoma (FCRC): clinical features and mutation analysis of the VHL, MET, and CUL2 candidate genes. | journal = J Med Genet | volume = 37 | issue = 5 | pages = 348-53 | month = May | year = 2000 | doi =  | PMID = 10807693 }}</ref>
**VHL gene not mutated in all cases.<ref name=pmid10807693>{{Cite journal  | last1 = Woodward | first1 = ER. | last2 = Clifford | first2 = SC. | last3 = Astuti | first3 = D. | last4 = Affara | first4 = NA. | last5 = Maher | first5 = ER. | title = Familial clear cell renal cell carcinoma (FCRC): clinical features and mutation analysis of the VHL, MET, and CUL2 candidate genes. | journal = J Med Genet | volume = 37 | issue = 5 | pages = 348-53 | month = May | year = 2000 | doi =  | PMID = 10807693 }}</ref>
 
Treatment:
*Surgery.
*Various drugs.
*Targeted therapies.
**[[Tyrosine kinase inhibitors]] (e.g. [[sunitinib]], sorafenib).<ref name=pmid25467013>{{Cite journal  | last1 = Elaidi | first1 = R. | last2 = Harbaoui | first2 = A. | last3 = Beuselinck | first3 = B. | last4 = Eymard | first4 = JC. | last5 = Bamias | first5 = A. | last6 = De Guillebon | first6 = E. | last7 = Porta | first7 = C. | last8 = Vano | first8 = Y. | last9 = Linassier | first9 = C. | title = Outcomes from second-line therapy in long-term responders to first-line tyrosine kinase inhibitor in clear-cell metastatic renal cell carcinoma. | journal = Ann Oncol | volume = 26 | issue = 2 | pages = 378-85 | month = Feb | year = 2015 | doi = 10.1093/annonc/mdu552 | PMID = 25467013 }}</ref><ref name=pmid21484781>{{Cite journal  | last1 = Verma | first1 = J. | last2 = Jonasch | first2 = E. | last3 = Allen | first3 = P. | last4 = Tannir | first4 = N. | last5 = Mahajan | first5 = A. | title = Impact of tyrosine kinase inhibitors on the incidence of brain metastasis in metastatic renal cell carcinoma. | journal = Cancer | volume = 117 | issue = 21 | pages = 4958-65 | month = Nov | year = 2011 | doi = 10.1002/cncr.26138 | PMID = 21484781 }}</ref>
**Anti-VEGF antibodies (e.g. bevacizumab).<ref name=pmid21330923>{{Cite journal  | last1 = Singer | first1 = EA. | last2 = Gupta | first2 = GN. | last3 = Srinivasan | first3 = R. | title = Update on targeted therapies for clear cell renal cell carcinoma. | journal = Curr Opin Oncol | volume = 23 | issue = 3 | pages = 283-9 | month = May | year = 2011 | doi = 10.1097/CCO.0b013e32834479c0 | PMID = 21330923 }}</ref>


==Gross==
==Gross==
*Gold/yellow.
Features:
*Golden/yellow colour.
*+/-Haemorrhage (common).
*+/-Haemorrhage (common).
*+/-Necrosis (common in large tumours).
*+/-Necrosis (common in large tumours).
*+/-Calcification.
*+/-Calcification.
*+/-Cysts.
*+/-Cysts.
*Usually unifocal. ‡
Note:
*‡ Approximately 4% of CCRCCs are multifocal (based on a set of 5378 patients).<ref name=pmid22502873>{{Cite journal  | last1 = Siracusano | first1 = S. | last2 = Novara | first2 = G. | last3 = Antonelli | first3 = A. | last4 = Artibani | first4 = W. | last5 = Bertini | first5 = R. | last6 = Carini | first6 = M. | last7 = Carmignani | first7 = G. | last8 = Ciciliato | first8 = S. | last9 = Cunico | first9 = SC. | title = Prognostic role of tumour multifocality in renal cell carcinoma. | journal = BJU Int | volume = 110 | issue = 11 Pt B | pages = E443-8 | month = Dec | year = 2012 | doi = 10.1111/j.1464-410X.2012.11121.x | PMID = 22502873 }}</ref>


===Image===
===Image===
Line 50: Line 67:
==Microscopic==
==Microscopic==
Features:<ref name=Ref_PBoD1017-8>{{Ref PBoD|1017-8}}</ref>
Features:<ref name=Ref_PBoD1017-8>{{Ref PBoD|1017-8}}</ref>
*Clear cytoplasm.
**May have eosinophilic cytoplasm (in high-grade tumours) - usually focal.
*Delicate branching vasculature - '''key feature'''.
**Often called "chicken wire-like" vasculature.
*Solid or [[trabecular]] pattern.
*Solid or [[trabecular]] pattern.
*Polygonal cells.
*Polygonal cells.
*Clear cytoplasm.
*Central nucleus.
*Central nucleus.
*Delicate branching vasculature.
*+/-[[Renal cell carcinoma with rhabdoid morphology|Rhabdoid cells]]:
**Often called "chicken wire-like" vasculature.
*+/-Rhabdoid cells:
**Eccentric nucleus.
**Eccentric nucleus.
**Abundant eosinophilic cytoplasma.
**Abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm.


Notes:
Notes:
Line 67: Line 85:
**Not common in papillary RCC.
**Not common in papillary RCC.
*Clear cytoplasm - due to lipid content.
*Clear cytoplasm - due to lipid content.
*[[Necrosis]] is independent predictor of outcome - if present in a significant quantity:<ref name=pmid25474516>{{Cite journal  | last1 = Renshaw | first1 = AA. | last2 = Cheville | first2 = JC. | title = Quantitative tumour necrosis is an independent predictor of overall survival in clear cell renal cell carcinoma. | journal = Pathology | volume = 47 | issue = 1 | pages = 34-7 | month = Jan | year = 2015 | doi = 10.1097/PAT.0000000000000193 | PMID = 25474516 }}</ref>
**>30% is significant for pT3a tumours.
**>20% is significant for pT1-2 pN0 tumours.


DDx:
DDx:
Line 75: Line 96:
**EMA -ve, CKs mostly -ve, inhibin +ve (neg. in RCC).<ref name=Ref_GUP285>{{Ref GUP|285}}</ref>
**EMA -ve, CKs mostly -ve, inhibin +ve (neg. in RCC).<ref name=Ref_GUP285>{{Ref GUP|285}}</ref>
*[[Alveolar soft part sarcoma]].
*[[Alveolar soft part sarcoma]].
*[[Adrenal gland]], normal.
*[[Adrenal gland]], normal cortex - wispy, vacuolated.
*[[Epithelioid angiomyolipoma]].
*[[Benign clear cell clusters of the kidney]].  


===Images===
===Images===
====Case 1====
<gallery>
Image: Clear cell renal cell carcinoma - 2 -- intermed mag.jpg | CCRCC - intermed. mag. (WC)
Image: Clear cell renal cell carcinoma - 2 -- high mag.jpg | CCRCC - high mag. (WC)
Image: Clear cell renal cell carcinoma - 2 -- very high mag.jpg | CCRCC - very high mag. (WC)
</gallery>
====Case 2====
<gallery>
Image: Clear cell renal cell carcinoma -- intermed mag.jpg | CCRCC - intermed. mag. (WC)
Image: Clear cell renal cell carcinoma -- high mag.jpg | CCRCC - high mag. (WC)
Image: Clear cell renal cell carcinoma -- very high mag.jpg | CCRCC - very high mag. (WC)
</gallery>
====Case 3====
<gallery>
<gallery>
Image:Clear_cell_renal_cell_carcinoma_intermed_mag.jpg | CRCC - intermed. mag. (WC/Nephron)
Image:Clear_cell_renal_cell_carcinoma_intermed_mag.jpg | CRCC - intermed. mag. (WC/Nephron)
Image:Clear_cell_renal_cell_carcinoma_high_mag.jpg | CRCC - high mag. (WC/Nephron)
Image:Clear_cell_renal_cell_carcinoma_high_mag.jpg | CRCC - high mag. (WC/Nephron)
</gallery>
</gallery>
==Stains==
==Stains==
*Hale's colloidal iron -ve.  
*Hale's colloidal iron -ve.  
Line 92: Line 129:


==IHC==
==IHC==
*CK7 -ve.  
*CD10 +ve.
*Vimentin +ve.
*CK7 -ve.
**Strong CK7 staining is more in keeping with [[clear cell papillary renal cell carcinoma]]<ref name=pmid26457355>{{Cite journal  | last1 = Williamson | first1 = SR. | last2 = Gupta | first2 = NS. | last3 = Eble | first3 = JN. | last4 = Rogers | first4 = CG. | last5 = Michalowski | first5 = S. | last6 = Zhang | first6 = S. | last7 = Wang | first7 = M. | last8 = Grignon | first8 = DJ. | last9 = Cheng | first9 = L. | title = Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma With Borderline Features of Clear Cell Papillary Renal Cell Carcinoma: Combined Morphologic, Immunohistochemical, and Cytogenetic Analysis. | journal = Am J Surg Pathol | volume = 39 | issue = 11 | pages = 1502-10 | month = Nov | year = 2015 | doi = 10.1097/PAS.0000000000000514 | PMID = 26457355 }}</ref> or the evolving entity of [[TCEB1-mutated renal cell carcinoma]]. 
*CK20 -ve.
*CK20 -ve.
*Glut-1 >85% of CCRCC (membranous pattern).<ref name=pmid17638658>{{Cite journal  | last1 = Ozcan | first1 = A. | last2 = Shen | first2 = SS. | last3 = Zhai | first3 = QJ. | last4 = Truong | first4 = LD. | title = Expression of GLUT1 in primary renal tumors: morphologic and biologic implications. | journal = Am J Clin Pathol | volume = 128 | issue = 2 | pages = 245-54 | month = Aug | year = 2007 | doi = 10.1309/HV6NJVRQKK4QHM9F | PMID = 17638658 }}</ref>
*E-cadherin +ve - usually weak, often -ve in higher stage tumours.<ref name=pmid23939157>{{Cite journal  | last1 = Hu | first1 = H. | last2 = Chen | first2 = JW. | last3 = Xu | first3 = KX. | last4 = Wang | first4 = D. | last5 = Wang | first5 = Y. | last6 = Wang | first6 = GW. | last7 = Zhang | first7 = SY. | last8 = Wang | first8 = XF. | title = [Expressions of CMTM8 and E-cadherin in primary and metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma]. | journal = Beijing Da Xue Xue Bao | volume = 45 | issue = 4 | pages = 537-41 | month = Aug | year = 2013 | doi =  | PMID = 23939157 }}</ref>
*CAIX (also CA9) +ve.
A panel to confirm the diagnosis:
*CK7 (-ve), CD10 (+ve), PAX8 (+ve), vimentin (+ve).
===CCRCC versus [[chromophobe RCC]]===
ISUP recommends:<ref name=pmid25025364 >{{cite journal |author=Amin MB, Epstein JI, Ulbright TM, ''et al.'' |title=Best practices recommendations in the application of immunohistochemistry in urologic pathology: report from the international society of urological pathology consensus conference |journal=Am. J. Surg. Pathol. |volume=38 |issue=8 |pages=1017–22 |year=2014 |month=August |pmid=25025364 |doi=10.1097/PAS.0000000000000254 |url=}}</ref>
*CD117 -ve (+ve in ChRCC).
**Aguilar-León ''et al.'' found ~8% of CCRCC are CD117 +ve.<ref name=pmid25643775>{{Cite journal  | last1 = Aguilar-León | first1 = D. | last2 = Del Ángel-Millán | first2 = G. | last3 = Zepeda-Quiroz | first3 = I. | last4 = Soria-Céspedes | first4 = D. | title = [Immunohistochemical Expression of CD117 (c-kit) in 75 Renal Cell Tumors]. | journal = Gac Med Mex | volume = 150 Suppl 2 | issue =  | pages = 156-60 | month = Dec | year = 2014 | doi =  | PMID = 25643775 }}</ref>
**Liu ''et al.'' found ~80% of ChRCC are CD117 +ve.<ref name=pmid17683191/>
*CA9 ([[carbonic anhydrase 9]]) +ve (membranous).<ref name=pmid21677535>{{cite journal |author=Al-Ahmadie HA, Alden D, Fine SW, ''et al.'' |title=Role of immunohistochemistry in the evaluation of needle core biopsies in adult renal cortical tumors: an ex vivo study |journal=Am. J. Surg. Pathol. |volume=35 |issue=7 |pages=949–61 |year=2011 |month=July |pmid=21677535 |doi=10.1097/PAS.0b013e31821e25cd |url=}}</ref>
*[[CK7]] -ve (+ve in ChRCC).


CCRCC versus [[chromophobe RCC]]:<ref name=pmid17683191>{{Cite journal  | last1 = Liu | first1 = L. | last2 = Qian | first2 = J. | last3 = Singh | first3 = H. | last4 = Meiers | first4 = I. | last5 = Zhou | first5 = X. | last6 = Bostwick | first6 = DG. | title = Immunohistochemical analysis of chromophobe renal cell carcinoma, renal oncocytoma, and clear cell carcinoma: an optimal and practical panel for differential diagnosis. | journal = Arch Pathol Lab Med | volume = 131 | issue = 8 | pages = 1290-7 | month = Aug | year = 2007 | doi = 10.1043/1543-2165(2007)131[1290:IAOCRC]2.0.CO;2 | PMID = 17683191 }}</ref>
May also be useful:
*Vimentin +ve.
*Vimentin +ve.
**-ve in ChRCC.
**-ve in ChRCC.<ref name=pmid17683191>{{Cite journal  | last1 = Liu | first1 = L. | last2 = Qian | first2 = J. | last3 = Singh | first3 = H. | last4 = Meiers | first4 = I. | last5 = Zhou | first5 = X. | last6 = Bostwick | first6 = DG. | title = Immunohistochemical analysis of chromophobe renal cell carcinoma, renal oncocytoma, and clear cell carcinoma: an optimal and practical panel for differential diagnosis. | journal = Arch Pathol Lab Med | volume = 131 | issue = 8 | pages = 1290-7 | month = Aug | year = 2007 | doi = 10.1043/1543-2165(2007)131[1290:IAOCRC]2.0.CO;2 | PMID = 17683191 }}</ref>
*CD117 -ve.
 
**+ve ~80% of ChRCC.
===CCRCC versus [[CCPRCC]]===
[[ISUP]] recommends:<ref name=pmid25025364/>
*CA9 +ve (strong membranous).
*CK7 -ve.
**Usually +ve in [[clear cell papillary renal cell carcinoma]].
*AMACR -ve.
 
Others:
*CD10 +ve.
**Usually -ve in [[clear cell papillary renal cell carcinoma]].
 
===CCRCC versus Xp11.2 translocation carcinomas===
ISUP recommends:<ref name=pmid25025364/>
*Cathepsin K -ve.<ref name=pmid21602817>{{cite journal |author=Martignoni G, Gobbo S, Camparo P, ''et al.'' |title=Differential expression of cathepsin K in neoplasms harboring TFE3 gene fusions |journal=Mod. Pathol. |volume=24 |issue=10 |pages=1313–9 |year=2011 |month=October |pmid=21602817 |doi=10.1038/modpathol.2011.93 |url=}}</ref>
*TFE3 -ve.
*TFEB -ve.


==Sign out==
==Sign out==
===Biopsy===
<pre>
Kidney Mass, Left, Core Biopsy:
- Clear cell renal cell carcinoma
- ISUP nucleolar grade 2 (based on biopsy)
- No renal parenchyma identified
Comment:
The quantity of tissue available at microscopy is very limited.
Immunostains confirm the morphologic impression (see microscopic).
</pre>
====MDA form====
<pre>
Kidney Mass, Left, Core Biopsy:
- CLEAR CELL RENAL CELL CARCINOMA, preliminary ISUP nucleolar grade 2 (see comment).
- No renal parenchyma identified.
Comment:
The quantity of tissue at microscopy is limited, and may not be representative
of the lesion identified radiologically.
</pre>
===Resection===
Note:
Note:
*The surgeon wants the diagnosis and margin status; thus, these are included in the diagnosis line with the tumour stage.
*The surgeon wants the diagnosis and margin status; thus, these are included in the diagnosis line with the tumour stage.


<pre>
Left Kidney, Radical Nephrectomy:
    - CLEAR CELL RENAL CELL CARCINOMA.
    -- Margins clear.
    -- Please see synoptic report.
</pre>
====Block letters====
<pre>
<pre>
KIDNEY, LEFT, NEPHRECTOMY:
KIDNEY, LEFT, NEPHRECTOMY:
Line 112: Line 213:
</pre>
</pre>


===Adrenal gland present===
====Adrenal gland present====
<pre>
<pre>
KIDNEY, RIGHT, RADICAL NEPHRECTOMY:
KIDNEY, RIGHT, RADICAL NEPHRECTOMY:
Line 132: Line 233:
The sections show a tumour with a chicken wire-like vasculature composed of clear cells with basally stratified nuclei. Hemosiderin-laden macrophages are present. Necrosis is present. Abundant hyaline globules are present.   
The sections show a tumour with a chicken wire-like vasculature composed of clear cells with basally stratified nuclei. Hemosiderin-laden macrophages are present. Necrosis is present. Abundant hyaline globules are present.   


There is no perinuclear clearing.  The cytoplasm is not whispy. Collections of macrophages are not identified within the stroma of the tumour.  Papillae are not evident.
There is no perinuclear clearing.  The cytoplasm is not wispy. Papillae are not evident.


Rare, small nucleoli are visible with the 10x objective.  The tumour nuclei are approximately 15 micrometers.
Rare, small nucleoli are visible with the 10x objective.  The tumour nuclei are approximately 15 micrometers.
====Alternate====
The sections show cohesive mildly atypical clear cells with a columnar morphology. Small cystic spaces are present. The nuclei are basal stratified. Nucleoli are not prominent. Siderophages are present. Blood is present.
No perinuclear halos are apparent. No papillary structures are identified. No definite renal parenchyma is seen.


==See also==
==See also==
*[[Kidney tumours]].
*[[Kidney tumours]].
*[[TCEB1-mutated renal cell carcinoma]].
*[[Renal cell carcinoma with rhabdoid morphology]].


==References==
==References==

Latest revision as of 16:14, 22 January 2024

Clear cell renal cell carcinoma
Diagnosis in short

Clear cell renal cell carcinoma. H&E stain.

Synonyms conventional renal cell carcinoma

LM solid or trabecular pattern, polygonal cells usually with clear cytoplasm (may be eosinophilic - esp. in high grade tumours), central nucleus, delicate branching vasculature (chicken wire-like), +/-hyaline bodies
LM DDx chromophobe renal cell carcinoma, clear cell papillary renal cell carcinoma, Xp11.2 translocation carcinoma, adrenocortical carcinoma, alveolar soft part sarcoma
Stains Hale's colloidal iron stain -ve
IHC CA9 +ve, CK7 -ve, CK20 -ve, TFE3 -ve, PAX8 +ve, vimentin +ve
Gross golden/yellow colour, +/-hemorrhagic, +/-cystic, +/-necrosis
Grossing notes total nephrectomy for tumour grossing, partial nephrectomy grossing
Staging kidney cancer staging
Site kidney - see kidney tumours

Syndromes von Hippel-Lindau syndrome, familial clear cell renal cell carcinoma

Signs +/-hematuria, +/-abdominal mass
Prevalence common
Radiology renal mass
Prognosis good-to-poor - dependent on stage and grade
Clin. DDx other renal tumours
Treatment surgery, targeted therapies, other drugs

Clear cell renal cell carcinoma, abbreviated CCRCC, is the most common type of renal cell carcinoma.

It is also known as conventional renal cell carcinoma (abbreviated CRCC).

General

  • Most common subtype of RCC.
  • May be associated with Von Hippel-Lindau syndrome.
  • Familial clear cell renal cell carcinoma[1] - usually VHL gene mutation.[2]
    • VHL gene not mutated in all cases.[3]

Treatment:

Gross

Features:

  • Golden/yellow colour.
  • +/-Haemorrhage (common).
  • +/-Necrosis (common in large tumours).
  • +/-Calcification.
  • +/-Cysts.
  • Usually unifocal. ‡

Note:

  • ‡ Approximately 4% of CCRCCs are multifocal (based on a set of 5378 patients).[7]

Image

Microscopic

Features:[8]

  • Clear cytoplasm.
    • May have eosinophilic cytoplasm (in high-grade tumours) - usually focal.
  • Delicate branching vasculature - key feature.
    • Often called "chicken wire-like" vasculature.
  • Solid or trabecular pattern.
  • Polygonal cells.
  • Central nucleus.
  • +/-Rhabdoid cells:
    • Eccentric nucleus.
    • Abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm.

Notes:

  • Cytoplasm may be eosinophilic.[9]
    • This change is typically focal - other areas have a classic appearance.
    • Chicken wire-like vasculature present - helps distinguish from other tumours.
  • Hyaline bodies common.[10]
    • Not common in papillary RCC.
  • Clear cytoplasm - due to lipid content.
  • Necrosis is independent predictor of outcome - if present in a significant quantity:[11]
    • >30% is significant for pT3a tumours.
    • >20% is significant for pT1-2 pN0 tumours.

DDx:

Images

Case 1

Case 2

Case 3

Stains

Note: Hale's colloidal iron does not stain iron... it stains hemosiderin.[13]

Clear cell vs. chromophobe:

  • Chromophobe: "translucent" (NOT quite clear), reticulated, Hale's colloidal iron stain+, CK7+ (cell membrane).

IHC

A panel to confirm the diagnosis:

  • CK7 (-ve), CD10 (+ve), PAX8 (+ve), vimentin (+ve).

CCRCC versus chromophobe RCC

ISUP recommends:[17]

  • CD117 -ve (+ve in ChRCC).
    • Aguilar-León et al. found ~8% of CCRCC are CD117 +ve.[18]
    • Liu et al. found ~80% of ChRCC are CD117 +ve.[19]
  • CA9 (carbonic anhydrase 9) +ve (membranous).[20]
  • CK7 -ve (+ve in ChRCC).

May also be useful:

  • Vimentin +ve.

CCRCC versus CCPRCC

ISUP recommends:[17]

Others:

CCRCC versus Xp11.2 translocation carcinomas

ISUP recommends:[17]

  • Cathepsin K -ve.[21]
  • TFE3 -ve.
  • TFEB -ve.

Sign out

Biopsy

Kidney Mass, Left, Core Biopsy:
- Clear cell renal cell carcinoma
- ISUP nucleolar grade 2 (based on biopsy)
- No renal parenchyma identified

Comment:
The quantity of tissue available at microscopy is very limited.
Immunostains confirm the morphologic impression (see microscopic).

MDA form

Kidney Mass, Left, Core Biopsy:
- CLEAR CELL RENAL CELL CARCINOMA, preliminary ISUP nucleolar grade 2 (see comment).
- No renal parenchyma identified.

Comment:
The quantity of tissue at microscopy is limited, and may not be representative 
of the lesion identified radiologically.

Resection

Note:

  • The surgeon wants the diagnosis and margin status; thus, these are included in the diagnosis line with the tumour stage.
Left Kidney, Radical Nephrectomy:
     - CLEAR CELL RENAL CELL CARCINOMA.
     -- Margins clear.
     -- Please see synoptic report.

Block letters

KIDNEY, LEFT, NEPHRECTOMY:
- CLEAR CELL RENAL CELL CARCINOMA, FUHRMAN GRADE 2, pT1a, pNx.
-- MARGINS NEGATIVE FOR MALIGNANCY.
-- PLEASE SEE TUMOUR SUMMARY.

Adrenal gland present

KIDNEY, RIGHT, RADICAL NEPHRECTOMY:
- CLEAR CELL RENAL CELL CARCINOMA, FUHRMAN GRADE 2, pT1a, pNx.
-- MARGINS NEGATIVE FOR MALIGNANCY.
-- PLEASE SEE TUMOUR SUMMARY.
- ADRENAL GLAND WITHIN NORMAL LIMITS.
KIDNEY, RIGHT, RADICAL NEPHRECTOMY:
- CLEAR CELL RENAL CELL CARCINOMA, FUHRMAN GRADE 3, pT1b, pNx.
-- MARGINS NEGATIVE FOR MALIGNANCY.
-- PLEASE SEE TUMOUR SUMMARY.
- ADRENAL GLAND WITHIN NORMAL LIMITS.

Micro

The sections show a tumour with a chicken wire-like vasculature composed of clear cells with basally stratified nuclei. Hemosiderin-laden macrophages are present. Necrosis is present. Abundant hyaline globules are present.

There is no perinuclear clearing. The cytoplasm is not wispy. Papillae are not evident.

Rare, small nucleoli are visible with the 10x objective. The tumour nuclei are approximately 15 micrometers.

Alternate

The sections show cohesive mildly atypical clear cells with a columnar morphology. Small cystic spaces are present. The nuclei are basal stratified. Nucleoli are not prominent. Siderophages are present. Blood is present.

No perinuclear halos are apparent. No papillary structures are identified. No definite renal parenchyma is seen.

See also

References

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