Papillary renal cell carcinoma with lipocyte-like cells: a rare morphological variant or an indication of aggressiveness?

Indian J Pathol Microbiol. 2010 Jul-Sep;53(3):541-3. doi: 10.4103/0377-4929.68291.

Abstract

Papillary renal cell carcinoma (PRCC) is the second most common carcinoma of the kidney, which is classified into two types. Type 1 displays single layer of cells with scanty pale cytoplasm and type 2 has pseudostratified high-grade nuclei with eosinophilic cytoplasm. Recently, apart from these two types, oncocytic PRCC and clear-cell PRCC have been described. To the best of our knowledge, lipocyte-like cells have not yet been reported to accompany any subtypes of renal cell carcinoma. Herein, we report a case of PRCC with lipocyte-like cells and sarcomatoid features. Lipocyte-like cells might represent a special type of PRCC or this feature may be an indication of poor prognosis regarding its association with sarcomatoid change.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adipocytes / pathology
  • Adult
  • Carcinoma, Renal Cell / diagnosis*
  • Carcinoma, Renal Cell / pathology*
  • Histocytochemistry
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Kidney Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Kidney Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Male
  • Microscopy
  • Racemases and Epimerases / analysis

Substances

  • Racemases and Epimerases
  • alpha-methylacyl-CoA racemase