Renal Cell Carcinoma

Several cancer types originate from the adult kidney. In addition, the organ is a site for metastases from other tumors. Within the kidney, tumors can be derived from different cell types. Tumors of mesenchymal origin can be benign or malignant, e.g. angiomyolipoma vs. sarcoma,. In the renal pelvis, urothelial carcinomas resemble those in the bladder. Actual renal cell carcinomas (RCC) are derived from various segments of the nephron. They are distinguished by their histological appearance and accordingly designated chromophobic, chromophilic, clear-cell, papillary etc. The clear-cell variety is most common (hence also: ‘conventional’ RCC). There is also a benign epithelial tumor, oncocytoma.