CLEAR-CELL TUMORS OF UNKNOWN NATURE AND ORIGIN - A SYSTEMATIC-APPROACH TO DIAGNOSIS

Not infrequently, surgical pathologists encounter malignant neoplasms composed of clear cells, the sources and natures of which are indeterm inate on the basis of conventional morphological study. In this contex t, it is frustrating that tumors of completely dissimilar lineage can show strikingly similar microscopic appearances; moreover, anatomic lo cation provides few if any definitive clues to the likely final diagno sis in many cases of clear cell neoplasia. Because of these factors, i t is necessary to systematically pursue the same approach to the patho logical assessment of clear cell tumors, routinely considering not onl y clinical and radiologic details but also the possible application of immunohistology, electron microscopy, and cytogenetics. This review p rovides algorithmic schemes by which such techniques can be applied, a s well as their potential drawbacks and limitations. Copyright (C) 199 7 by W.B. Saunders Company.