6 CHROMOPHOBE CELL CARCINOMAS AND ONE MIXED RENAL-CELL CARCINOMA WITHCHROMOPHOBE CELL FEATURES - CLINICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL IMPLICATIONS

Objective To determine the incidence and clinical and pathological fea tures of chromophobe cell carcinoma (CCC) among renal cell carcinomas (RCCs). Materials and methods The records and nephrectomy samples from 166 patients who were operated on and followed up thereafter with a d iagnosis of RCC were re-evaluated. New sections were cut and specific staining performed when deemed necessary. Results Of 166 patients with RCC, six were diagnosed as having CCC and, unusually, one patient had a mixed RCC with areas of CCC. Neither the symptoms nor radiological features of these seven patients differed from those of the patients w ith RCC; the serum ferritin levels of these seven patients were also w ithin the normal range. These patients appeared to have a favourable c linical course. Conclusion Chromophobe cell carcinoma is a distinct en tity and must be distinguished particularly from oncocytoma and other variants of RCC. Although it seems to have a low malignant potential, metastatic CCC may have a worse prognosis.