双侧肾细胞癌21例报告

目的 探讨双侧肾细胞癌手术治疗的疗效。方法 1990年1月至2005年1月收治双侧肾细胞癌患者21例。其中同时性10例，异时性11例。肿瘤位于肾上极15枚，中极19枚，下极20枚；左肾28枚，右肾26枚。肿瘤直径0．5～16．0cm，平均4．5cm。2例伴下腔静脉癌栓。17例经手术治疗。6例同时性肾癌中，5例行双侧一期手术，1例行分期手术。其中1例行双肾部分切除术；1例行双肾部分切除及左肾上腺切除术；3例行一侧肾癌根治术及对侧肾部分切除术；1例行一侧肾癌根治术，对侧肾部分切除术及下腔静脉切开取癌栓术。11例异时性肾癌均分期手术。其中3例行双肾部分切除术；1例行一侧肾癌根治术，对侧肾肿瘤剜出术；1例行一侧肾癌根治术，对侧肾部分切除术加下腔静脉切开取癌栓术；6例行一侧肾癌根治术，对侧肾部分切除术。未行手术治疗4例．其中行介入治疗1例，生物学治疗1例，保守治疗2例。结果 21例随访3个月～24年，平均3．4年。17例手术治疗者中，13例未见肿瘤复发和转移，术后肾功能均可；1例术后10个月出现左上肺转移，已带瘤存活9个月；1例术后1年出现残肾肿瘤复发，经生物学和中药治疗，已带瘤存活5个月；2例死于肿瘤转移。4例未手术者中，1例10个月后死于胰腺转移，1例4个月后死于肾衰竭，1例6个月后死于脑血管意外，1例伴腹膜后淋巴结转移者经化疗和生物学治疗，病情稳定，已带瘤存活7个月。异时性肾癌者的先发一侧行肾癌根治术，对侧肾出现肿瘤的时间为7个月～18年。结论 双侧肾癌并非手术禁忌，如果采取积极的治疗措施，仍可获得满意的手术效果。保肾手术是目前较为理想的治疗方法，如果保留足够的肾实质，患者仍可获得良好的生存状态。     

Clinical evaluation for adrenal metastasis of renal cell carcinoma in a single institute

OBJECTIVE: Clinicopathogical features and prognosis of patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) concomitant with adrenal involvement (metastasis or invasion) were evaluated in a single institute. METHODS: In 380 patients with RCC who underwent radical nephrectomy 18 patients had adrenal involvement (13 ipsilateral adrenal involvement). Clinicopathological factors were compared between patients with ipsilateral adrnal involvement and control patients. Cause-spesific survival was calculated by Kaplan-Meier Method. RESULTS: Patients with ipsilateral adrenal involvement had significantly higher percentage of tumor>5.5 cm, upper pole tumor, pathological stage (pT) 3< or =, lymph node metastasis, distant metastasis outside ipsilateral adrenal gland, histological grade 3 and microvascular invasion than control patients (p<0.05). Therefore, large tumor (especially 5.5 cm<), upper pole tumor, clinical T3 (especially patients with tumor thrombus), lymph node metastasis and distant metastasis were candidates for risk factors of ipsilateral adrenal involvement. 76.9% of ipsilateral adrenal metastasis could be diagnosed by computed tomography (CT). Thus, preoperative adrenal finding by CT is very important to determine the indication of ipsilateral adrenalectomy. All 3 patients with small ipsilateral adrenal metastasis that could not be detected preoperative CT died within one and half year postoperatively. Patients with solitary adrenal metastasis appeared to have better prognosis compared to those with both adrenal and other metastases. In 4 patients who survived more than 2 years after the presentation of adrenal metastasis, 3 patients had solitary adrenal metastasis and underwent adrenalectomy. CONCLUSION: From the results in a single institute, radiological finding of adrenal grand, tumor size, tumor location, T stage, lymph node metastasis and distant metastasis outside ipsilateral adrenal gland are possible important factors to determine the indication of ipsilateral adrenalectomy preoperatively.     

Patterns of recurrence after curative resection of pancreatic cancer, based on autopsy findings

The autopsy findings of patients who died of recurrence after curative resection of pancreatic cancer may afford a reliable guide to increase long-term survival after surgery. Recurrence patterns were analyzed for 27 autopsied patients who had undergone potentially curative resection of pancreatic cancer. The pattern of recurrence was classified as follows: (1) local recurrence, (2) hepatic metastasis, (3) peritoneal dissemination, (4) para-aortic lymph node metastasis, and (5) distant metastasis not including hepatic metastasis, peritoneal dissemination, and para-aortic lymph node metastasis. Of the 27 autopsied patients, recurrence was confirmed for 22 of 24 patients, except for three who died of early postoperative complications. Eighteen (75%) of the 24 patients had local recurrence, 12 (50%) had hepatic metastasis, and 11 (46%) had both. For four patients, local recurrence confirmed by autopsy was undetectable by computed tomography, because the recurrent lesions had infiltrated without forming a tumor mass. Peritoneal dissemination, para-aortic lymph node metastasis, and distant metastasis were found for eight (33%), five (21%), and 18 (75%) of the cases, respectively. Twenty patients died of cancer, but local recurrence was judged to be the direct cause of death of only four. Local recurrence frequently occurs, but is rarely a direct cause of death, and most patients died of metastatic disease. Therefore, treatment that focuses on local control cannot improve the survival of patients with resectable pancreatic cancer, and thus, treatment regimens that are effective against systemic metastasis are needed.     

Significance of tumor spread in adenocarcinoma of the ampulla of Vater

Twenty-eight patients with ampullary carcinoma were treated between 1965 and 1988: 22 underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy with 1 operative death (5 percent), 1 had local excision, 3 had bypass, and 2 were not explored. Of the 21 patients who survived pancreaticoduodenectomy, 4 had tumor confined to the ampulla, 7 had tumor extending into the duodenum, and 10 had tumor invasion beyond the duodenum. Nine of these patients had positive lymph nodes and 12 had negative lymph nodes. The patient who had local excision was disease-free at last follow-up 104 months postoperatively. Each of the three bypassed patients died of tumor progression within 15 months. The estimated 5-year survival rate for resected patients was 60 percent and was independently related to lymph node metastases (p = 0.031) and to tumor size (p = 0.039). This experience suggests that long-term survival is possible in patients with lymph node metastases or invasive tumors extending beyond the duodenal wall and that curative pancreaticoduodenectomy can be performed with a low operative mortality; therefore, aggressive surgical resection is recommended for all patients with ampullary carcinoma.     

肾癌肾部分切除术的临床价值及合适的手术切缘的探讨

目的：探讨肾癌肾部分切除术(保留肾单位手术)的临床价值及合适的手术切缘。方法：回顾性分析15例行肾部分切除术的肾癌患者临床资料．其中双侧异时性肾癌且一侧为多发肿瘤2例，单发肿瘤13例。肿瘤直径2～6cm．均为T1期(1997年TNM分期标准)。对15例肾癌患者行肾部分切除术．手术切缘位于肿瘤外1cm。另取肾癌根治性手术标本21例．于体外沿假包膜行肾肿瘤剜除术．并随机切取肿瘤边缘0．3cm、0．5cm及1cm处肾实质及肾蒂处淋巴脂肪组织行病理检查。结果：15冽患者随访12～72个月．平均41个月．未见并发症及残肾内肿瘤复发。21例标本于体外行肿瘤剜除后肉眼下均无肿瘤组织残留，送检组织均无肿瘤细胞浸润。结论：肾部分切除术能安全有效地治疗局限的早期肾癌患者．而手术切缘为肿瘤边缘1cm处较为合适。     

Laparoscopic versus open partial nephrectomy for the treatment of pathological T1N0M0 renal cell carcinoma: a 5-year survival rate

PURPOSE: We retrospectively compared the oncological adequacy of laparoscopic partial nephrectomy to that of open partial nephrectomy in the treatment of patients with pathological stage T1N0M0 renal cell carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 143 patients with stage T1N0M0 renal tumors confirmed by pathological examination of the surgical specimen underwent partial nephrectomy between January 1996 and June 2004 with a followup of at least 1.5 years. Of these patients 85 were treated laparoscopically and the remaining 58 underwent open surgery. Medical and operative records were retrospectively reviewed with emphasis on tumor recurrence and survival. Statistical analysis was performed using Kaplan-Meier analysis. RESULTS: The mean followup for the laparoscopy group was 40.4 +/- 18.0 months. A total of 83 patients survived. Of these patients 2 patients experienced disease recurrence within 18 to 46.2 months, 1 patient died of cancer metastasis to brain within 29.7 months and 1 died of an unrelated cause. Seeding of the port sites did not develop in any of the patients. The 5-year disease-free and actuarial survival rates for this group were 91.4%, and 93.8%, respectively. The 58 patients who underwent open surgery had a mean followup of 49.68 +/- 28.84 months. A total of 53 patients survived without any disease recurrence, 1 survived with recurrence within 8 months, 1 survived with metastasis within 49 months and 3 died of unrelated causes. The 5-year disease-free and patient survival rates for this group were 97.6% and 95.8%, respectively. Kaplan-Meier disease-free survival and patient survival analysis revealed no significant differences between the laparoscopic and open partial nephrectomy groups. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic partial nephrectomy is an alternative technique with mid-range oncological results comparable to open partial nephrectomy in patients with localized pathological stage T1N0M0 renal cell carcinoma.     

On the necessity of adrenal extirpation combined with radical nephrectomy

Adrenal metastasis of renal cell carcinoma usually is an autopsy finding and seldom a clinical diagnosis. The incidence of ipsilateral suprarenal gland involvement also can be identified by histological examination of the organ with radical nephrectomy. The necessity of adrenalectomy performed in combination with nephrectomy is discussed. After a retrospective examination of our patients we discovered 8 adrenal metastases among 138 radical nephrectomies. Five patients who also had metastases in the lymph nodes (stages pN1 to pN2) died after an average of 26.4 months. Three patients without lymph node involvement are free of tumor. In these cases routine adrenalectomy must be regarded as a possible curative treatment.     

Treatment and prognosis of T 4 renal cell carcinoma]

BACKGROUND: We studied the cases with T 4 renal cell carcinoma (RCC) to characterize the factors associated with prolonged survival and to clarify the indication of extended nephrectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study population consisted of 53 patients (44 male and 9 female) with pT 4 RCC treated at the Yokohama City University Hospital and its affiliated hospitals from 1965 to 1994. Survival rates were analyzed with respect to clinicopathological factors (patient age, sex, symptom, tumor growing type, tumor size, histological grade, cell type, structural type, lymph node metastasis, vein invasion, distant metastasis and extended nephrectomy). RESULTS: One-year, 2-years, and 3-years survival rates of the cases with T 4 RCC were 30.4%, 16.4%, and 9.4% respectively. In univariate analysis, improved survival were correlated with no extra-urinary symptom (Logrank: p = 0.0048, Wilcoxon: p = 0.0423), no lymphnode metastasis (Logrank: p = 0.1045, Wilcoxon: p = 0.0199), no distant metastases (Logrank: p = 0.0007, Wilcoxon: p = 0.0006), and enforcement of extended nephrectomy (Logrank: p = 0.0018, Wilcoxon: p = 0.0008). In 28 cases with extended nephrectomy, improved survival was correlated with no extra-urinary symptom, no abdominal wall invasion and no distant metastases. In 5 cases with more than 3 year survival after extended nephrectomy, 4 cases were found to have no distant metastases at the time of operation. Non-operative therapy including interferon for 20 cases without extended nephrectomy were almost ineffective. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that if curative excision for T 4 RCC cases without distant metastases could be done, some patients might be appropriate candidates for extended nephrectomy.     

Outcome of penile cancer in circumcised men

PURPOSE: We previously reported on a group of patients with post-circumcision carcinoma of the penis. We now study the long-term outcome of these patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the available charts of 22 patients presenting between October 1979 and May 2000. RESULTS: Of 22 patients 18 underwent ritual circumcision with extensive scar development. Median age at diagnosis was 62.4 years. The penile lesion was dorsal and proximally located in 15 patients. Median delay before diagnosis was 12 months. Clinically 14 patients had stage T1-T2 disease, with 13 having no lymph node involvement and none with distant metastasis, 8 patients had stage T3-T4 disease. A total of 15 patients were treated surgically with total penectomy (10) or conservative local excision (5), inguinal lymph node dissection (9) and subsequent penile reconstruction (3). Pathological staging in 15 patients revealed 10 patients with stage T1 and in 8 patients with lymph node dissection none had nodal metastasis. Histopathological classification was 20 squamous cell carcinoma, 1 sarcoma and 1 verrucous carcinoma. Six patients refused surgery and 1 was referred for palliation. Median followup was 14.5 months and median survival was 14.5 months. The 3-year survival was 42% for stage T1-T2 and 13% for T3-T4 (p = 0.0052). Median survival for the surgical group was 34 months whereas for nonsurgical group was 3 months (p = 0.0016). Recurrence-free survival in the surgical group was 50%. CONCLUSIONS: Penile carcinoma in circumcised men is a distinct disease commonly following nonclassic vigorous circumcision. Delayed diagnosis and deferring surgical treatment are associated with increased mortality.     

Immunotherapy of metastasizing renal cell carcinoma. Results of a multicentered trial

119 patients with stage-IV renal cell carcinoma were treated using immunotherapy with autologous tumor vaccine. The immunization was carried out at monthly intervals, the patients were restaged every 3 months using X-ray, ultrasound scanning or computed tomography as well as bone scintigraphy in the follow-up. The patients' follow-up periods run from 6 to 66 months averaging in 38.5 months. 6 complete remissions, 4 partial responses and 29 stable diseases were seen, whereas 54 patients had progressive disease. Patients with a T1 primary tumor all survived the follow-up period irrespective of whether lymph node metastases (n = 2), venous invasion (n = 12) or distant metastases (n = 6) were present at the time of operation. Follow-up periods run from 12 to 48 months (averaging 23 months). Patients with T2 tumors showed survival up to 50 months postoperatively, of these only 3 died. Follow-up averages 30 months. The 3 patients died within the first year after operation. Patients with very large primary tumors showed the poor prognosis normally expected. 23 of these 40 patients died after a mean follow-up of 15 months. These results may indicate that immunotherapy can slow down tumor progression and induce objective responses. Those patients with small primary lesions apparently benefit from the treatment even though metastases are present at the time of diagnosis.     

腹腔镜胆囊切除术术中或术后意外胆囊癌的治疗

目的探讨腹腔镜胆囊切除术（LC）术中发现意外胆囊癌（UGC）的治疗方法。方法回顾分析1996年1月至2010年6月期间5000例行LC患者的临床资料,术后发现UGC12例,结合以往文献对UGC的诊治方法进行分析。结果手术顺利,术中和术后被证实为胆囊癌的患者12例,发生率为0.24%（12/5000）,其中T1期6例,T2期4例,T3期1例,T4期1例。T1期患者仅行LC,除1例于术后第39个月死于其他疾病外均长期存活;T2期仅行LC2例,中转开腹2例,行胆囊癌根治术,术后均长期存活;T3期1例,行LC,于术后第42个月死于肿瘤转移;T4期1例,术中发现腹膜广泛种植,仅行LC,于术后第6个月死亡。有3例发生戳孔种植,T1、T2、T3期各1例。结论胆囊癌存活期短,预后差,但腹腔镜手术发现的UGC大多属早期,采取合适的治疗手段可取得良好的疗效。     

局限性肾癌保留肾单位手术20例分析

目的探讨保留肾单位手术（nephrom-sparing surgery,NSS）治疗局限性肾癌的安全性和疗效。方法回顾性分析20例行NSS肾癌患者的临床资料,其中双侧肾癌1例,孤立肾肾癌1例,对侧肾有病变或潜在功能损害的肾癌3例,对侧肾正常的肾癌15例。肿瘤直径平均3.9（1.3-7.4）cm。行肿瘤剜除术13例,肾部分切除术4例,肾楔形切除术3例。结果 20例患者手术均成功。术后平均随访29（15-37）个月,1例双侧肾癌患者术后14月出现远处转移死亡,1例术后12个月因局部复发改行根治性肾切除术,2例术后出现暂时性肾功能不全。结论 NSS治疗肾癌安全有效,尤其适用于局限性肾癌患者。     

In situ management of renal tumors: renal cell carcinoma and transitional cell carcinoma

In the last 8 years 15 patients with malignant neoplasms in functionally solitary kidneys underwent in situ excision of the tumor with preservation of renal parenchyma. Of 10 patients with renal cell carcinoma 8 underwent partial nephrectomy, 1 had a central wedge resection and 1 had enucleation of 3 tumors. After followup of 6 months to 4.7 years 6 patients are free of disease. One patient died of metastatic cancer and 1 of cardiovascular disease. Of 5 patients with transitional cell carcinoma of the kidney (including 2 with parenchymal invasion) 2 underwent partial nephrectomy and 3 underwent extensive resection of renal pelvic lesions. After followup of 6 months to 7 years 2 patients are alive, 2 died of metastatic disease and 1 died of metastatic bladder carcinoma. Only 1 of the 5 patients had locally recurrent tumor. These data demonstrate the efficacy of in situ management of renal tumors in selected patients with solitary kidneys or compromised renal function.     

Surgical management of renal cell carcinoma with vena cava-right atrium thrombus

Historically the presence of a thrombus in vena cava was associated with worse prognosis in patients with renal cell carcinoma, and the effective of surgery limited. However a extensive tumor thrombi can be present without evidence of lymph node and distant metastasis, an aggressive surgical approach with curative intent is justified. We retrospectively reviewed 25 patients with renal cell carcinoma and thrombus in vena cava and they underwent radical nephrectomy and thrombectomy. The IRM allowed to know the level of the thrombus into vena cava in all patients: 56% level I, 8% level II, 26% level III. There were 14 pT3b, 8 pT3c, 3 pT4, and 48% N+. The rate of complications was 36% and there were 4 perioperative death (16%). Patients without lymph node and no distant metastasis had a mean survival of 64% 46%, 37% to 2, 3, 4 years respectively. Patients with lymph node invasive an distant metastasis the prognosis was poor. We no noted correlation between level thrombus and prognosis.     

Results of radical nephrectomy associated with regional lymphadenectomy for renal cell carcinoma]

Between January, 1975 and December, 1989, 86 patients with renal cell carcinoma received radical nephrectomy associated with lymphadenectomy at our institutions. Pathological examination revealed lymph node metastasis in 15 patients (17.4%). The incidence of lymph node metastasis increased in accordance with the aggravation of tumor stage (p less than 0.01) and grade (p less than 0.05). Patients with a rapidly growing tumor showed higher incidence of lymph node metastasis than patients with a slow growing tumor (p less than 0.01). Regional lymph node metastases were found in 3 of the 41 patients with a slow growing tumor. Since these 3 patients are surviving with no evidence of disease for 38.7 months on average, the regional lymphadenectomy was considered to have been effective for their survival. Nine of the 25 patients with a rapid growing tumor had progressive lymph node metastasis. Four of them had apparent tumor thrombi as well as lymph node metastasis, and 2 of them had distant metastasis. These patients showed poor prognosis even after operation. Lymphadenectomy was of no value to the patients with apparent tumor thrombi and/or distant metastasis.     

Results of radical nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma. Report 1. Analysis according to the TNM staging system of the general rule for clinical and pathological studies on renal cell carcinoma

One hundred and six patients with renal cell carcinoma were treated with radical nephrectomy at our Department between 1970 to December, 1985. A retrospective analysis was performed with TNM staging system of The General Rule for Clinical and Pathological Studies on Renal Cell Carcinoma, which was established by the Japanese Urological Association in 1983. The 5-year survival rate according to pathological T-stage was 100% for 2 patients in pT1, 67.5% for 58 patients in pT2, 49.5% for 42 patients in pT3, 0% for 4 patients in pT4. Two patients in stage of pT1 had no venous involvement, lymph node metastasis, or distant metastasis. Twenty two patients had positive venous involvement (21%), 4 (7%) in stage of pT2, 16 (38%) in pT3, 2 (50%) in pT4. Twelve patients had positive lymph nodes (11%), 0 (0%) in stage of pT2, 10 (24%) in pT3, 2 (50%) in pT4. Twenty five patients, (24%) had distant metastasis at the time of nephrectomy, 8 (14%) in stage of pT2, 15 (38%) in pT3, 2 (50%) in pT4. The 5-year survival of 22 patients with venous involvement, 12 patients with lymph nodes metastasis, 25 patients with distant metastasis were 47%, 30%, 39% respectively. No significant difference of 5-year survival between 69% of 48 patients in T1 & 2VoNoMo (Robson-I) and 76% of 12 patients in T3VoNoMo (Robson-II) were considered to need the establishment of new classification for early stage of renal cell carcinoma. TNM staging system was thought to be better than Robson's Classification for analyzing the unique biological potential of renal cell carcinoma.     

Long term results of excision of small renal cancer surrounded by a minimal layer of grossly normal parenchyma: review of 94 cases

OBJECTIVE: To assess safety and effectiveness of excision of small renal cancer. METHODS: We reviewed the records of 94 patients, who underwent, from 1992 to 2001, excision of renal tumor leaving around it a thin layer of grossly normal parenchyma and adjacent perinephric fat. This technique has been called enucleoresection, as it is not a simple enucleation but neither a conventional partial nephrectomy. Patients were followed up mean routine blood examination, ultrasound and computed tomography scan every 6 months for 2 years and annually thereafter. RESULTS: Median age was 63 years (35-76). Median tumour size was 2.1cm (1.1-4.5). Clamping of renal pedicle was performed in 54 cases. Major complications included 4 cases of haemorrhage; only 1 patient required surgical exploration. Pathological stage was pT1a in 87, pT1b in 4 and pT3a in 3 patients. Surgical margins were always negative. Median follow-up was 59 months (range 10-128). Eight patients died without evidence of tumour recurrence. One pT3a patient developed distant metastases and died 2 years after surgery. Five years survival rate was 95.7% (90/94 patients), cancer specific survival rate 98.9% (93/94) and disease free survival rate 98.9% (93/94). CONCLUSIONS: Enucleoresection of small renal tumors surrounded by a minimal layer of grossly normal renal parenchyma reproduces the results of partial and radical nephrectomy with minimal morbidity.     

Renal metastasis originating from pulmonary carcinoma: a case report

A 61-year-old woman, who had undergone total right pneumonectomy 22 months before due to lung cancer (adenosquamous cell carcinoma) was admitted for macroscopic hematuria. Abdominal CT showed two renal tumors in the right kidney. Right radical nephrectomy was performed, because no imaging study showed any other metastasis. Pathological examination revealed adenosquamous cell carcinoma, which was the same pathology as the lung cancer had been. She died of the left lung metastasis 24 months after right radical nephrectomy. Her prognosis was thought to have been prolonged by the operation of right radical nephrectomy.     

A clinical study of renal pelvic and ureteral cancer: prognosis and frequency of subsequent bladder cancer following surgical treatment

PURPOSE: A retrospective investigation of patients presenting with renal pelvic and ureteral cancer was performed. This study focused on the prognostic factors and frequency of subsequent bladder cancer following surgical treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-five patients presenting with transitional cell carcinoma, who had undergone nephroureterectomy at the Department of Urology, Okayama Central Hospital, from March 1990 to November 2000, were reviewed. Various factors were evaluated according to survival and non-bladder cancer occurrence rates. The Kaplan-Meier method was used in the analyses. RESULTS: Patients consisted of 33 males and 12 females (mean age was 71.7). Seventeen patients exhibited renal pelvic cancer, 25 cases displayed ureteral cancer and three subjects presented with multiple cancers. Eleven patients had received treatment for precedent or coexistent superficial bladder cancer by transurethral resection. The overall 5-year survival rate was 71.9%. Ten patients died as a result of the disease; in all cases, lymph node or distant metastasis had progressed. Pathological T factor, tumor grade and pN factor demonstrated a significant effect on survival; however, sex, age, tumor localization and incidence of subsequent bladder cancer had no influence on survival. The 5-year non-bladder cancer occurrence rate was 38.8%; additionally, all subsequent bladder cancer was disclosed within three years. Tumor multiplicity exclusively in the upper urinary tract significantly affected occurrence of bladder cancer. T factor and tumor grade revealed no correlation to occurrence. CONCLUSIONS: Adjuvant chemotherapy for prevention of clinical metastasis should be considered in cases involving pT3 or higher stage, grade 3, or in instances of pathologically confirmed lymph node metastasis. The significant occurrence of subsequent bladder cancer in the case of tumor multiplicity suggested that prophylactic therapy such as intravesical BCG instillation or chemotherapy might be beneficial.     

Histologic Characteristics of Renal Cell Carcinomas with Lymph Node Metastasis

Background :
This study was conducted to determine if there are any specific histologic features that are associated with lymph node metastasis in renal cell carcinoma (RCC).
Methods :
TNM classification, histologic grade, mean nuclear volume, cell type, and histologic architecture of the tumors were evaluated in 66 patients who had undergone nephrectomy and lym-phadenectomy for RCC. In the 18 patients with positive lymph node metastasis, both primary lesions and metastatic lymph nodes were evaluated.
Results :
Lymph node status was correlated with primary tumor stage, venous involvement, and distant metastasis. The tumor grade was higher, and the mean nuclear volume was larger, in both primary and metastatic lesions of RCCs with lymph node metastasis than in tumors with no metastasis. In primary lesions of RCCs with lymph node metastasis, clear cell, alveolar, or cystic patterns were observed less frequently, and granular or spindle/pleomorphic cells and papillary or solid patterns, were observed more frequently, as compared to those lesions without metastasis. Comparison between primary and metastatic lesions in individual patients revealed no significant difference in grade or mean nuclear volume. The development of new cell types or histologic architectures, which was not noted in the primary lesions, was also a rare event in the metastatic lesions.
Conclusion :
Several characteristic histologic features, which may reflect the increased metastatic potential of the tumor, were observed in both primary and metastatic lesions in cases of RCC with lymph node metastasis. No substantial difference in histologic features was observed between the primary or metastatic lesions of individual patients.