Pathology of renal cancer and other tumours affecting the kidney
In the past 50 years, classification systems for renal neoplasms have become increasingly complex as distinctive morphologic patterns in renal neoplasms have been recognized and correlated with clinical findings. In addition to classic histopatology, more sophisticated diagnostic tools, including electron microscopy, immunohistochemistry, cytogenetics, and molecular diagnostic techniques have greatly influenced distinctions between various types of renal neoplasms. The current World Health Organization classification of renal neoplasms encompasses nearly 50 distinctive renal neoplasms categorized as malignant or benign tumours. These categories have been expanded during recent years to incorporate newer histotypes, thus suggesting that the next revision of this classification will incorporate some recently recognized entities. In this chapter, we examine clinicopathologic and genetic features of the renal tumours most often seen in clinical practice.