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Syncytial giant cell component.
Review of 55 renal cell carcinomas
F. Berzal Cantalejo, V. Sabater Marco,
S. Alonso Hernández, R. Jiménez Peña and
M.A. Martorell Cebollada
Department of Pathology, Hospital General
Universitario de Valencia, Valencia, Spain
Offprint requests to: Fernanda Berzal Cantalejo, Department
of Pathology, Hospital General Universitario de Valencia, Avda.
Tres Cruces s/n, 46014 Valencia, Spain. e-mail: berzal_fer@gva.es
Summary. Different
types of multinucleated giant cells (MGC) have been documented
in tumors with osteoclast-like appearance, with trophoblastic
differentiation or as tumoral malignant giant cells. A new variety
of MGC has been described in renal cell carcinoma. In order to
study the frequency, nature and significance of this cellular
type, we have reviewed our files.
To assess the presence, nature and significance of these MGC
in renal cell carcinomas and associated histologic subtype.
To review all malignant renal tumors diagnosed in the last 5
years in our hospital and to carry out a morphologic and immunohistochemical
study in renal cell carcinomas with syncytial type MGC.
55 renal cell carcinomas were reviewed. Clear cell (conventional)
renal cell carcinoma was the most common type encountered (40
cases); two of these cases showed syncytial type MGC and low
grade malignancy. Microscopically the MGC contained from 5 to
40 nuclei. Immunohistochemically, mononucleated and multinucleated
cells were positive for cytokeratin CAM 5.2, cytokeratin AE1/AE3
and weakly positive for vimentin. Histiocytic, muscular, neural
markers, beta-HCG and alpha-fetoprotein were negative.
The presence of syncytial type MGC in renal cell carcinomas is
an exceptional event. Among 55 renal cell carcinomas we found
two cases, both of which were of clear cell subtype and low grade
malignancy. The MGC proved positive for epithelial markers and
probably are the result of mononucleated tumoral cell fusion.
We are unaware of the impact of this MGC in the outcome of patients;
such cells appear in low grade carcinomas and do not seem to
be of dismal prognosis. Histol. Histopathol. 19, 113-118 (2004)
Key words: Multinucleated
cells, Synctial component, Renal carcinoma
DOI: 10.14670/HH-19.113
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