title: Spectrum of preneoplastic and neoplastic cystic lesions of the kidney.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cystic lesions of the kidney may be accompanied by a range of neoplasms with distinct prognoses and future risks of developing additional tumors. In addition, some renal tumors, with or without accompanying renal cysts, may show a prominent cystic component. In the adult population, neoplasms occurring in a background of renal cystic diseases and cystic renal neoplasms often pose diagnostic challenges because of their many overlapping features.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To review the clinicopathologic characteristics of common entities in the spectrum of neoplastic and potential preneoplastic cystic lesions encountered in adults, with an emphasis on renal cystic diseases associated with tumor development and on renal neoplasms with predominantly cystic morphology.
  
  
  METHODS
  The relevant English-language literature was reviewed, accompanied by the authors' experience at their practicing institution.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The presence of multiple renal cysts, both acquired and syndromic, can be associated with a variety of renal tumors. The morphology of the cysts and associated tumor types can help predict the genetic or acquired basis of the lesions, and particularly in specimens with no accompanying pertinent clinical history, such potential associations should be suggested in surgical pathology reports.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York 10065, USA.
authors.forename: Ying-Bei
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Satish K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Tickoo
mesh_terms: D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000473:pathology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000473:pathology*; D052177:Kidney Diseases, Cystic / Q000473:pathology*; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000473:pathology*; D011379:Prognosis