PATH 205.3 Lecture Notes - Lecture 18: Renal Cell Carcinoma, Radiofrequency Ablation, Tumor Suppressor Gene
Document Summary
85% of cancers of the kidney, especially clear cell type. Causes unknown strong association w/ cigarette smoking: may develop more frequently in end-stage kidneys. Triad (seen 10% of time: flank pain caused by acute stretching of the renal capsule, hematuria blood in urine, abdominal mass when the tumor has grown big enough. Microscopic hematuria: five-year survival = 40% Nodules or masses sharply demarcated from normal parenchyma. Invades through capsule into surrounding tissues: prognosis is good when contained in the kidney itself. Commonly invades renal vein (and may reach the vena cave and the heart) It"s filled w/ lipid and glycogen so when it has been treated on a slide the cells have big spaces since the glycogen and lipids have dissolved, hence, why it is called the clear cell type renal cell carcinoma. Graded based on nuclear features (size and prominence of the nuclei) Can be resected when it is still confined to the kidney.
