Renal chromophobe cell carcinoma: clinical analysis and review of 21 cases

Abstract

Objectives To improve the diagnosis level of renal chromophobe cell carcinoma(RCCC) and the recognition of renal cell carcinoma(RCC). Methods The clinical data of 21 patients with RCCC (11 men and 10 women) were analyzed. Their age ranged from 27 to 85 years, with a mean of 52 years. 11 cases underwent retroperitoneal laparoscopic radical nephrectomy, 8 cases underwent laparoscopic partial nephrectomy and 2 cases underwent open radical nephrectomy. Results Postoperative pathological findings confirmed the diagnosis of RCCC. The pathologic TNM stage of RCCC was as follows: pT1N0M0 in 13 cases, pT2N0M0 in 5 cases, pT3aN1M0 in 2 cases and pT4N0M0 in 1 case.The Furhman pathologic grade of RCCC was G1 in 6 cases, G2 in 14 cases and G3 in 1 case. Nineteenth cases were followed up. During the follow-up of 3 to 36 months(mean 17 months). One case died of heart attack, one case had local recurrence and died of pulmonary infection, one case died of pulmonary metastasis of carcinoma and 16 cases were surviving tumor free. Conclusions RCCC is a morphologically distinctive uncommon type of RCC. Radical nephrectomy is the first choice for the treatment of RCCC. Compared with other types of RCC at the same stage and of the same grade, RCCC has a better prognosis. Key words: Kidney Neoplasms; Prognosis