Distribution of subtypes of metastatic renal-cell carcinoma: correlating findings of fine-needle aspiration biopsy and surgical pathology.

Clear-cell (CRCC), papillary (PRCC), and chromophobe (CHRCC) renal-cell carcinoma (RCC) are the three most frequent subtypes of RCC. The rate and distribution of their metastatic lesions have not been well studied in cytopathological materials. Sixty-two fine-needle aspiration biopsy cases of metastatic RCC were studied and correlated with surgical pathology of RCCs with and without metastasis. Special stains for glycogen and immunostaining for cytokeratins, vimentin epithelial membrane antigen (EMA), and carcinoembryonic antigens, and electron microscopic studies were performed. Fifty-nine cases of CRCC and three of PRCC subtypes were retrieved from the cytopathology files at the Ottawa Hospital in a period of 10 years. Of these cases, 10 metastatic CRCC and one metastatic PRCC were diagnosed prior to the diagnosis of the primary tumor. CHRCC and sarcomatoid RCC were not represented in cytopathological specimens. CRCC displayed characteristic filmy cytoplasm and nuclei with prominent nucleoli. PRCC was characterized by dense cytoplasm, large nuclei with prominent nucleoli, and papillary architectures. In addition, all RCCs were characterized by the presence of glycogen and the absence of mucin by using histochemical techniques and electron microscopic studies and positive reactivity for cytokeratins (CK) and vimentin (VIM). In the same period, there were a total of 380 patients with RCC divided into 310 CRCCs, 55 PRCCs, and 15 CHRCCs associated with metastases in 142, 9, and 1 case, respectively. CRCC is by far the most common subtype found in metastases sampled in cytopathology. PRCC, CHRCC, and sarcomatoid RCC were underrepresented. Awareness of this propensity of RCC and the characteristic cytopathological, histochemical, immunohistochemical, and ultrastructural features are helpful in the diagnosis of metastatic RCC.