Renal mucinous tubular and spindle cell carcinoma: a report of 8 cases and review of the literature

BACKGROUND: Mucinous tubular and spindle cell carcinoma of kidney (MTSCC-K) is a rare variant of renal tumor. The current data show most of MTSCCs are of low malignant potential and rare cases metastatic to lymph nodes have been reported; however, the recorded computed tomography (CT) and follow up data are limited. MATERIAL AND METHOD: In the present study, we retrospectively analyzed CT and clinicopathological data of eight patients with renal MTSCC-K. RESULTS: A total of eight cases, including six females and two males, were included in this analysis with a mean age of 48.4 (range 25 to 81) years. Mean tumor size was 4.2 (range 2.5 to 10.0) cm. Preoperative CT demonstrated that all tumors were slightly enhanced on both corticomedullary and nephrographic phase, which was different from many other renal cell carcinomas. Three of them were treated with open radical nephrectomy, three with laparoscopic radical nephrectomy and the other two with laparoscopic partial nephrectomy. No postoperative therapy was applied. Patients were followed up for 15 to 64 months and there was no evidence of recurrence and metastasis. CONCLUSIONS: The MTSCC-K has special clinicopathological characteristics, low degree of malignancy and relative good prognosis. The diagnosis mainly depends on the histopathological examination and CT may help to differentiate with papillary renal cell carcinoma. Surgical treatment is recommended and additional therapies are not necessary. VIRTUAL SLIDES: The virtual slides for this article can be found here: http://www.diagnosticpathology.diagnomx.eu/vs/8435581771088249.