title: Renal cystic neoplasms and renal neoplasms associated with cystic renal diseases: pathogenetic and molecular links.
abstract: Cystic renal neoplasms represent an isolated cystic mass not accompanied by cystic change of the renal parenchyma. Although cystic change may be seen in any type of renal neoplasm, a few (i.e., cystic renal cell carcinoma, cystic nephroma, cystic partially differentiated nephroblastoma, mixed epithelial and stromal tumor) are characterized by constant cystic change that may involve the entire tumor. Cystic kidney disease is characterized by cystic change, which usually involves the kidneys in a bilateral and diffuse pattern, does not create a discreet mass, and is due to hereditary or developmental conditions. Some of the cystic kidney diseases are not known to give rise to renal neoplasm; others such as autosomal polycystic kidney disease or multicystic dysplastic kidney may fortuitously coexist with renal neoplasms. Three conditions (acquired cystic kidney disease, tuberous sclerosis, and von Hippel-Lindau disease) are associated with renal neoplasms with such a high frequency that they are considered preneoplastic. This article reviews the differential diagnoses among cystic neoplasms. It also focuses on the underlying genetic and molecular mechanisms for the relationship between cystic renal diseases and renal neoplasms.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Pathology, Baylor College of Medicine, The Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas 77030, U.S.A. ltruong@bcm.tmc.edu
authors.forename: Luan D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Truong
authors.forename: Yeong-Jin
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Steven S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Gustavo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ayala
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Amato
authors.forename: Bhuvaneswari
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Krishnan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D052177:Kidney Diseases, Cystic / Q000150:complications* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged