Renal Oncocytoma with Invasive Histopathologic Features –  Case Report

Overview

Background:
Renal oncocytoma is an uncommon tumor, classified as a benign renal neoplasm in the World Health Organisation classification of renal tumours. Despite it there were described several reports with invasive histopathologic features.

Case report:
We describe a case of renal oncocytoma with bizzare cells and invasion of renal sinus fat tissue. We performed immunohistochemical analysis of the case and a review of relevant literature.

Conclusion:
In order to set up the right dia­gnosis the perfect co‑ operation of clinicians and pathologists is necessary. In our opinion, in accordance with other authors, the renal oncocytomas should be considered as having a very low rather than no malignant potential, in spite of clinically benign behavior, supplementing a hypothesis, whether renal oncocytomas may be considered as a precancerous lesion of chromophobe carcinoma.

Key words:
renal oncocytoma –  invasion –  immunohistochemistry –  genetics

Introduction

Renal oncocytoma is classified as a benign renal neoplasm in the WHO classification of renal tumors [1]. Renal oncocytoma is the second most common benign renal neoplasm after angiomyolipoma, comprising 3– 7% of all renal tumors [2]. Most renal oncocytomas are asymptomatic at presentation with discovery occurring during radiographic work‑ up of unrelated conditions. Few patients present with hematuria, flank plain or palpable mass [1– 3]. There is a wide range of age distribution, with a peak incidence in the 7th decade of life. Male to female ratio is 2 : 1. Zhou et al [4] defined renal oncocytoma as a benign epithelial neoplasm composed of round‑ to polygonal‑ cells with abundant mitochondria‑ rich eosinophilic cytoplasm, thought to arise from the intercalated cells in the kidney. It is considered to be a benign tumor with an excellent prognosis [1,5,6]. Extension to peri­nephric fat without stromal response can occur (20%). Extension into renal veins is reported in up to 5% of cases [4]. In this report, we describe a case of a 69‑year‑ old man with renal oncocytoma with bizarre cells and with invasion to the perirenal fat tissue. Computer tomography (CT) examination also discovered three nodular lesions in the lungs. Preconception that there are metastatic lesions of renal oncocytoma was not verified. Histological examinations re­vealed the squamocellular carninoma of the lungs, which means tumor duplicity. We performed immunohistochemical analysis and a review of relevant literature about dualistic benign/ malignant features of renal oncocytoma.

Clinical findings

A 69‑year‑ old man (smoker) presented with stabbing, spot‑like abdominal pain in the epigastrium. The patient noted that the pain is getting more severe, irradiating to the back. Excessive sweating, vomiting was also experienced. The patient did not observe blood in urine. Abdominal USG examination showed mild hepatosplenomegaly and a 9.1 × 8.4 × 10 cm tumor with non‑homogeneous density in the right kidney with small calcifications. Left kidney contained some cysts of 3.5 cm maximal size. Lymphatic nodes in the retroperitoneum were 3 cm maximum. CT examination (Fig.  1) confirmed the USG exam of the abdomen and three well‑limited lesions in the lungs which were previously not discovered at radiography exam (8 mm nodule in the left lung, 15 mm in the hilus of the left lung and 20 mm in the right lung with basal localization).

Radical nephrectomy was carried out on the right side (11/ 2012), and then nodulectomies (1/ 2013) were carried out in the lungs.

Pathology findings

The renal tumor was in the upper and the midzone of the kidney, measuring up to 9 cm in diameter. The tumor was yellow‑  -brown in color with a central white scar, 1.8 cm in diameter. Histology showed microscopic features of oncocytoma, packets of regular cells with eosinophilic cytoplasm with cystic changes, without mitotic figures (0/ 10 HPF). There were binucleated and bizarre cells, too (Fig.  2). Hale colloidal iron showed an intraluminal staining. Invasion of renal sinus fat tis­sue was also detected (Fig.  3).

Immunohistochemical analysis

Tumor cells had negative immunoreactivity for RCC (renal cell carcinoma antigen), CD10, CK7 (cytokeratin 7), AMACR, Vimentin and positive for CD117, CK 7, E‑ cadherin and EMA (epithelial membrane antigen). Proliferation marker Ki 67 was minimal.

Our dia­gnostic conclusion was an oncocytoma with invasive histologic features. Nine weeks later we got resections of lung with nodules. Our dia­gnosis, based on the immunohistochemical analysis, was squamocellular carcinoma probably of the lung with intrapulmonal metastasion; thus, the patient had two types of tumous. Unfortunately, there was no genetic analysis.

Current state

Therapy of the oncocytoma is radical nephrectomy, which was carried out on the patient. Therapy is now centered on the squamocellular carcinoma of the lungs –  patient received five cycles using carboplatin and gemcitabine for four months, then tyrosine‑ kinase inhibitor (erlotinib) for four months. Twelve months after nephrectomy, the patient is doing well.

Discussion

Renal oncocytoma was first described by Zippel in 1942; in 1976, Klein and Valensi demonstrated its benign character with excellent prognosis [7,8].

Renal oncocytomas in general are typically solid, well circumscribed but nonencapsulated solid masses of mahogany or dark brown colour. They often have a central stellate scar and can reach a huge size. They can be multicentric and bilateral [1,4,9– 11].

Histopathologically, the tumor is characterized by a proliferation of oncocytic renal epithelial cells displaying alveolar, tubular or cystic patterns, composed of cells with abundant acidophilic granular cytoplasm. The nuclei usually have smooth round or oval contours, focal nuclear polymorphism can also occur. The typical case of oncocytoma should not contain prominent papillary formations, clear cells, cystic changes, hemor­rhage or necrosis. Psammoma bodies can be present. Some renal oncocytomas may be multifocal (oncocytosis) and display changes suggestive of chromophobe cell carcinoma [4,11]. Our purpose was to exclude heterogenecity (we examined almost 50 specimens) and to exclude chromophobe or clear cell renal cell carcinoma. It is essential to examine the whole tumor, if possible, because renal cell carcinoma can be present in the same oncocytoma as well [6,9]. Oncocytomas and chromophobe renal cell carcinomas are closely related tumors since they originate from the intercalated ducts of the distal nephron, but they may be morphologically difficult to dif­ferentiate by hematoxylin eosin stain­ing. Colloidal iron helps to differentiate the reticular staining of chromophobe carcinoma from the weak granular or absent staining of oncocytoma. Cytokeratin 7 was reported to be positive in chromophobe carcinomas and negative in renal oncocytomas [4,10,11], Zhou et al [4] described that cytokeratin 7 is negative or positive in single cells or small clusters of cells.

EMA is expressed similarly by oncocytomas and chromophobe carcinomas [13].

CD10 is negative in all renal carcinomas. Liu et al [14] described a little benefit of CD 10 in the separation of clear cell RCC from chromophobe RCC and oncocytoma. Vimentin is negative in all oncocytomas and in 79% of the chromophobe carcinomas, although focal positivity can be seen in tumor cells within septa [4]. Mazal et al [15] examined a kidney specific cadherin, a cell adhesion molecule found on the basolateral membrane of renal tubular epithelial cells and collecting duct cells. Their conclusion was that kidney specific cadherin was expressed almost exclusively in chromophobe carcinomas.

CD 117 is diffusely positive –  the study of Liu et al [14] confirmed the accuracy of CD117 and its expression in chromophobe RCC and oncocytoma, in contrast with negative staining in clear cell RCC. Glutathion S‑ transferase A (GST A)and epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) are also useful markers, Liu et al [14] recommend a combination of three markers –  vimentin, GSTa and EpCAM for the differential dia­gnosis of chromophobe carcinoma, oncocytoma and a clear cell carcinoma. In their study, they achieved 100% sensitivity and 100% specificity. CD117 and CK7 could be used as second line markers for the differential dia­gnosis, with high specificity (100%) and high sensitivity (90%, 86%, resp.) (Tab. 1).

There have been extensive reports on the bio­logical behavior and histological features of renal oncocytomas since they were first described over 70 years ago. In a large retrospective study, Lieber et al [16] stratified 90 tumors that fit­ted the criteria of oncocytoma and proposed the grading system described in Tab. 2.

Although Amin et al revalued tumors with grade 2 and 3 in Lieber’s study as chromophobe cell carcinomas [17], we think that our case may classified as grade 2. Since 2000 we have dia­gnosed 32 cases of oncocytoma, there was an only case with invasive histopathologic features.

Concern for possible malignant potential of renal  oncocytoma, described for the first time by Fairchild et al [12], was implied by several observations (mild nuclear pleomorphism oncocytoma, ultrastructural characteristics suggested, the oncocytoma originated from proximal tubular cells that gave rise to the renal carcinoma, then multifocal potential and coexistence of oncocytoma and chromophobe renal carcinoma in contralateral kidney).

Since then, only rare cases of metastatic oncocytomas have been described [18,19] and unique cases have been studied with a modern panel of immunohistochemistry, so called metastatic oncocytomas were probably chromophobe renal cell carcinomas or granular forms of clear cell renal carcinoma with incorrect histology classification [6,19].

Oncocytic tumors of other organs –  e. g. those of the adrenal or salivary gland –  may occasionally show malignant behavior, but this is associated with cytonuclear and histological features indicative of malignant behavior (Tab. 3) [20].

From a genetic point of view, oncocytomas are heterogeneous, and a subset of (10% of them) shows loss of heterozygosity for chromosome 1 and/ or chromosome X and/ or 14, whereas another subset is characterized by translocation involving chromosome 11. The abnormalities on chromosome 1 are shared with chromophobe RCC, which also carry additional chromosomal changes. This observation has led to hypothesis that oncocytomas may progress to chromophobe renal cell carcinomas [20]. Al‑ Saleem et al [27] report a case of a 69‑year‑ old male with numerous oncocytic neoplasms of both kidneys, morphologically progressing from oncocytomas to hybrid tumors with chromophobe carcinomas (not associated with Birt Hogg Dube syndrome). Their hypothesis was that renal oncocytosis and possibly familial oncocytomas demonstrated multiple chromosomal losses associated with evidence of progression to chromophobe renal cell carcinoma in the same tumor, the same kidney, or in the contralateral kidney [27].

Conclusion

In conclusion, a subset of oncocytomas sharing genetic or molecular features of chromophobe carcinoma may explain rare instances of invasive histologic features or metastases, although the presence of these features does not necessarily imply clinically malignant behavior [20]. We agree with Oxley et al [19] that renal oncocytomas should be considered as having a very low rather than no malignant potential, raising again the question, whether renal oncocytomas may be considered as a precancerous lesion of chromophobe carcinoma. In order to set up with the right dia­gnosis, perfect co‑ operation of clinicians and pathologists is necessary. Radical nephrectomy could be regarded as an overtreatment, especially in patients with small tumors, but coexisting renal cell carcinoma, perirenal fat invasion, a hallmark of malignant behavior, might indicate radical surgery in these patients [26]. It is essential to analyze the whole tumor, if possible. Fine needle bio­psy, aspiration cytology and frozen section bio­psy are inappropriate methods for correct morphologic dia­gnosis [6,28]. The co‑ operation between clinicians and pathologists and the clinical observation of patients with renal oncocytoma will lead to improved patient management and ultimately bet­ter patient care.

The authors declare they have no potential conflicts of interest concerning drugs, products, or services used in the study.

The Editorial Board declares that the manuscript met the ICMJE “uniform requirements” for biomedical papers.

MUDr. Georgína Kolníková

Division of Pathology

Alpha Medical Pathologia Ltd

Ružinovská 6

826 06 Bratislava

Slovak Republic

e-mail: mudr.kolnikova@gmail.com

Submitted: 21. 11. 2013

Accepted: 1. 12. 2013