Primitive neuroectodermal tumour (PNET) of the kidney: a rare renal tumour in adolescents with seemingly characteristic radiological features.
BACKGROUND
Primitive neuroectodermal tumours (PNETs) constitute a family of neoplasms of presumed neuroectodermal origin that predominantly present as bone or soft-tissue masses in adolescents and young adults. PNET arising in the kidney is rare.


OBJECTIVE
To describe the radiological features in three patients with primary renal PNET.


METHODS
The radiological features of primary renal PNET in three adolescent patients (age 10, 14 and 16 years) are described.


RESULTS
Tumour thrombus extending into the renal vein and inferior vena cava was noted in all three patients. In addition, further tumour extension into the atrium was seen in two patients with extension into a pulmonary artery in one patient. Neural foraminal and intraspinal extension close to the origin of the tumour was identified in two patients. Liver, bone and lung metastases were identified.


CONCLUSIONS
While rare, one should consider the diagnosis of PNET when encountering a renal mass with aggressive features such as inferior vena cava tumour thrombus, direct intraspinal invasion and distant metastasis.
Chu
Winnie C
WC
Department of Diagnostic Radiology and Organ Imaging, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Ngan Shing Street, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong. winnie@med.cuhk.edu.hk
Reznikov
Boris
B
Lee
Edward Y
EY
Grant
Ronald M
RM
Cheng
Frankie W T
FW
Babyn
Paul
P
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003287:Contrast Media; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D018242:Neuroectodermal Tumors, Primitive / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D003287:Contrast Media