Clear cells in the kidney

Clear cells in the kidney are commonly seen in tumours and occasionally are seen in benign lesions.

Benign clear cell clusters of the kidney - a mimic of renal cell carcinoma. H&E stain.

Clear cell renal cell carcinoma - the classic RCC with clear cells. H&E stain.

RCC with clear cells redirects to here.

Recognized kidney tumours with clear cells or pale cytoplasm:

• Clear cell renal cell carcinoma.
• Clear cell papillary renal cell tumour (previously clear cell papillary renal cell carcinoma).
• ELOC-mutated renal cell carcinoma.
• RCC with TSC/mTOR pathway mutation.
• Xp11.2 translocation carcinoma.
• Epithelioid angiomyolipoma.^{[citation needed]}
• Multilocular cystic renal neoplasm of low malignant potential.
• Chromophobe renal cell carcinoma - not really "clear" cells.

Evolving entities:

• Melanotic Xp11 translocation renal cancer.
• Tuberous sclerosis-associated renal cell carcinoma.

Benign things:

• Benign cortical cyst of the kidney.
• Benign clear cell clusters of the kidney.
• Adrenal gland cortex - biopsy of wrong anatomical site.

See also

• Clear cell tumours.
• Clear cell carcinoma.
• Renal tumours with eosinophilic cytoplasm.