title: Contemporary approach to the classification of renal epithelial tumors.
abstract: Our understanding of the morphologic and genetic features of renal epithelial neoplasia has brought about profound changes in the classification of these tumors. It is clear that they represent a heterogeneous group of tumors with distinct histopathologic, genetic, and clinical features ranging from benign to high-grade malignant. "Granular" and "sarcomatoid" carcinomas are not distinct entities, since tumors with granular or spindle cell features may be seen in many tumor-types. Using conventional pathologic tools such as hematoxylin and eosin staining, histochemistry, immunohistochemistry, and electron microscopy, we are able to properly classify the majority of these tumors. Nevertheless, approximately 6% to 7% of cases are impossible to classify in this fashion, thus requiring molecular genetic studies for proper characterization.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10021, USA.
authors.forename: V E
authors.initials: VE
authors.lastname: Reuter
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Presti
mesh_terms: D018249:Adenoma, Oxyphilic / Q000145:classification; D018276:Carcinoma, Medullary / Q000145:classification; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary / Q000145:classification; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000145:classification* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D052177:Kidney Diseases, Cystic / Q000145:classification; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000145:classification* / Q000473:pathology; D007685:Kidney Tubules, Collecting; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D018299:Neoplasms, Ductal, Lobular, and Medullary / Q000145:classification; D009373:Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal / Q000145:classification; D009375:Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial / Q000145:classification* / Q000473:pathology