title: Handling and reporting of nephrectomy specimens for adult renal tumours: a survey by the European Network of Uropathology.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To collect information on current practices of European pathologists for the handling and reporting of nephrectomy specimens with renal tumours.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A questionnaire was circulated to the members of the European Network of Uropathology, which consists of 343 pathologists in 15 European countries. Replies were received from 48% of members. These replies indicated that nephrectomy specimens are most often received in formalin. Lymph nodes are found in less than 5% of nephrectomy specimens. All respondents give an objective measure of tumour size, most commonly in three diameters. The most common method to search for capsule penetration is to slice tissue outside the tumour perpendicularly into the tumour. The most common sampling algorithm from tumours greater than 2 cm is one section for every centimetre of maximum tumour diameter. Most respondents use the 2004 WHO renal tumour classification although only slightly over half consider small papillary tumours malignant if the diameter is greater than 5 mm. The Fuhrman grading system is widely used. Almost all use immunohistochemistry for histological typing in some cases, while only 7% always use it. The most utilised special stains are CK7 (95%), CD10 (93%), vimentin (86%), HMB45 (68%), c-kit (61%) and Hale's colloidal iron (52%). Only 18% use other ancillary techniques for diagnosis in difficult cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  While most pathologists appear to follow published guidelines for reporting renal carcinoma, there is still a need for the development of consensus and further standardisation of practice for contentious areas of specimen handling and reporting.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Fundacion Puigvert-University Autonomous, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Ferran
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Algaba
authors.forename: Brett
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Delahunt
authors.forename: Daniel M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Berney
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Camparo
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Compérat
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Griffiths
authors.forename: Glen
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kristiansen
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lopez-Beltran
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Martignoni
authors.forename: Holger
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Moch
authors.forename: Rodolfo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Montironi
authors.forename: Murali
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Varma
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Egevad
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000465:Algorithms; D005060:Europe; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D009392:Nephrectomy; D010338:Pathology, Clinical; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires