PATH - Kidney Cancer Flashcards
Renal cell carcinoma
Most common 1° renal malignancy
Originates from *PCT cells–>polygonal clear cells filled with accumulated lipids and carbohydrates
golden-yellow due to
INC lipid content
Manifests clinically with hematuria, palpable mass, 2° polycythemia, flank pain,
fever, weight loss
Associated with gene deletion on *chromosome
3
“RCC = 3 letters = chromosome 3”
Invades renal vein then IVC
and spreads hematogenously; metastasizes to
*lung and *bone.
Associated with paraneoplastic syndromes (eg, ectopic EPO, ACTH, PTHrP, renin).
Renal oncocytoma
Benign epithelial cell tumor arising from *collecting ducts
Large eosinophilic cells with abundant
mitochondria without perinuclear clearing
Presents with *painless hematuria, flank pain,
abdominal mass
Wilms tumor
nephroblastoma
Most common renal malignancy of early childhood (ages 2–4)
Contains embryonic glomerular structures.
Presents with large, palpable, *unilateral flank mass and/or hematuria
“Loss of function” mutations of tumor suppressor genes *WT1 or *WT2 on chromosome 11.
May be a part of several syndromes:
-WAGR complex: Wilms tumor, Aniridia (absence of iris), Genitourinary malformations, mental
Retardation/intellectual disability (WT1 deletion)
-Denys-Drash: Wilms tumor, early-onset nephrotic syndrome, male pseudohermaphroditism
(WT1 mutation)
-Beckwith-Wiedemann: Wilms tumor, macroglossia, organomegaly, hemihypertrophy (WT2
mutation)
Transitional cell carcinoma
Most common tumor of urinary tract system
*Painless hematuria
(no casts) suggests bladder cancer
Associated with problems in your “Pee SAC:”
Phenacetin, Smoking, Aniline dyes, and
Cyclophosphamide.
Squamous cell carcinoma of the bladder
Chronic irritation of urinary bladder–>squamous metaplasia–>dysplasia and squamous cell carcinoma.
Presents with *painless hematuria
Risk factors include *Schistosoma haematobium infection (Middle East), chronic cystitis, smoking,
chronic nephrolithiasis. Presents with painless hematuria
