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Original article
Handling and reporting of nephrectomy specimens for adult renal tumours: a survey by the European Network of Uropathology
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  1. Ferran Algaba1,
  2. Brett Delahunt2,
  3. Daniel M Berney3,
  4. Philippe Camparo4,
  5. Eva Compérat5,
  6. David Griffiths6,
  7. Glen Kristiansen7,
  8. Antonio Lopez-Beltran8,
  9. Guido Martignoni9,
  10. Holger Moch10,
  11. Rodolfo Montironi11,
  12. Murali Varma6,
  13. Lars Egevad12
  1. 1Department of Pathology, Fundacion Puigvert-University Autonomous, Barcelona, Spain
  2. 2Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, Wellington School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Otago, Wellington, New Zealand
  3. 3Department of Molecular Oncology, Barts Cancer Institute, London, UK
  4. 4Service d'anatomie et cytologie pathologiques, Hopital Foch, Paris, France
  5. 5Department of Pathology, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France
  6. 6Department of Pathology, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, UK
  7. 7Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Bonn, Germany
  8. 8Unit of Anatomic Pathology, Cordoba University Medical School, Cordoba, Spain
  9. 9Anatomia Patologica, Department of Pathology and Diagnostics, University of Verona, Italy
  10. 10Institute for Surgical Pathology, University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland
  11. 11Institute of Pathological Anatomy and Histopathology, School of Medicine, Polytechnic University of the Marche Region, Ancona, Italy
  12. 12Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
  1. Correspondence to Professor Lars Egevad, Department of Pathology, Radiumhemmet P1:02, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm 17176, Sweden; lars.egevad{at}ki.se

Abstract

Aim To collect information on current practices of European pathologists for the handling and reporting of nephrectomy specimens with renal tumours.

Methods and Results A questionnaire was circulated to the members of the European Network of Uropathology, which consists of 343 pathologists in 15 European countries. Replies were received from 48% of members. These replies indicated that nephrectomy specimens are most often received in formalin. Lymph nodes are found in less than 5% of nephrectomy specimens. All respondents give an objective measure of tumour size, most commonly in three diameters. The most common method to search for capsule penetration is to slice tissue outside the tumour perpendicularly into the tumour. The most common sampling algorithm from tumours greater than 2 cm is one section for every centimetre of maximum tumour diameter. Most respondents use the 2004 WHO renal tumour classification although only slightly over half consider small papillary tumours malignant if the diameter is greater than 5 mm. The Fuhrman grading system is widely used. Almost all use immunohistochemistry for histological typing in some cases, while only 7% always use it. The most utilised special stains are CK7 (95%), CD10 (93%), vimentin (86%), HMB45 (68%), c-kit (61%) and Hale's colloidal iron (52%). Only 18% use other ancillary techniques for diagnosis in difficult cases.

Conclusions While most pathologists appear to follow published guidelines for reporting renal carcinoma, there is still a need for the development of consensus and further standardisation of practice for contentious areas of specimen handling and reporting.

  • Angiogenesis
  • bladder
  • cancer
  • cell cycle regulation
  • cytopathology
  • genitourinary pathology
  • histopathology
  • kidney
  • morphometry
  • nephrectomy
  • pathology
  • prostate
  • renal cell carcinoma
  • renal neoplasms
  • reporting
  • surgical pathology
  • testis
  • tumour markers
  • urinary tract tumours
  • uropathology

https://doi.org/10.1136/jclinpath-2011-200339

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    The second edition of the WHO classification of renal tumours, published in 1981, divided carcinomas of the renal parenchyma into two categories—renal cell carcinoma and other.1 At that time, there were limited treatment options for these tumours and as there were few validated prognostic factors, histological reports were somewhat basic. In recent years there has been an enormous expansion in our understanding of the histogenesis, morphology and molecular biology of these tumours, and it is now recognised that renal cell carcinoma is not a single entity but a diverse group of tumours with differing morphology, genetics and clinical course.2

    The introduction of targeted therapies for renal epithelial malignancies has provided an impetus for pathologists and oncologists to investigate molecular pathways associated with the development of each tumour morphotype.3 Coupled with these developments considerable advances have been made in the identification and validation of prognostic factors for these tumours.4 As a consequence of these advances the pathologist is now expected to provide a detailed report containing not only the diagnosis, but also a detailed description of prognostic features relevant to each specific morphotype, in order to facilitate management decisions and outcome prediction.

    The handling of surgical specimens remains central to the evaluation of all forms of renal cell carcinoma, and in recent years several guidelines have been published relating to the handling and reporting of kidney specimens containing either benign or malignant tumours.5–10 These protocols are frequently detailed, demanding extensive specimen examination and careful documentation. Clearly, the implementation of the recommendations contained within these protocols has led to a considerable increase in laboratory workload and may conflict with the diminishing availability of resources, which is a feature of contemporary medical practice. In view of these constraints it remains uncertain as to how these protocols are implemented and their recommendations are followed in the clinical setting. In order to investigate current practices we have undertaken this survey, which we anticipate will inform a refinement of reporting recommendations.

    Materials and methods

    The participants in the survey are members of the European Network of Uropathology (ENUP), which was established in 2006 and has, as one of its aims, the development of evidenced-based reporting guidelines.11 For the purpose of this study a web-based questionnaire was developed containing 51 questions specifically related to the handling and reporting of nephrectomy specimens from adult patients with renal parenchymal malignancies. The questions were framed by a multinational committee consisting of 13 senior specialist urological pathologists. All of these had previous experience in formulating questionnaires of this nature.

    Questions were proposed by individual members of the committee and then circulated for comment and amendment. The process of revision passed through several cycles and at the completion there was unanimous agreement that all questions were of relevance to the study. In their final form all questions were of the multiple choice type but in some of these there was an opportunity for the respondent to provide alternative answers or record comments.

    The web tool used for the publication of questionnaires and the collection of data was that employed in previous surveys conducted by the ENUP (http://www.surveymonkey.com).12

    An invitation to participate in the survey was circulated to all members of the network by email during December 2009 and a reminder was sent to all those who had failed to return the survey just before the close off date of January 2010.

    Results

    The overall response to the survey was 175 replies from a total of 343 ENUP members circulated (47.5%). The geographical distribution of the respondents is shown in table 1.

    View this table:
    Table 1

    Countries participating in the ENUP and in the RCC survey study

    Not all respondents answered all the questions in the survey. Of the pathologists who replied, 54.9% (89/162) worked at a university (academic) hospital, 41.4% (67/162) in a community (public healthcare) hospital, 1.9% (3/162) in private healthcare and 1.9% (3/162) in another type of institution. Among replying ENUP members, 42% (68/162) were also members of the International Society of Urological Pathology.

    The workload in relation to renal malignancies was quite variable among participants in the survey. The number of total nephrectomy specimens processed per year in the laboratory of the respondents was 20 or less in 13.1% (21/160), 21–40 in 29.4% (47/160), 41–60 in 26.3% (42/160), 61–100 in 20.6% (33/160), 101–150 in 8.8% (14/160) and more than 150 in 1.9% (3/160).

    Gross examination and handling

    These results are detailed in tables 2–4.

    View this table:
    Table 2

    Initial handling of nephrectomy specimens (submission, type of tissue included, harvesting for research)

    View this table:
    Table 3

    Cutting of nephrectomy specimens (capsule penetration, sections taken)

    View this table:
    Table 4

    Cutting of nephrectomy specimens (margins, frozen sections)

    It was reported that the specimens were most frequently handled by a fully qualified medical pathologist. In slightly more than half the cases the renal specimen is always placed in formalin before submission to the laboratory. Separate lymphadenectomy specimens were rarely received and in less than 5% of the cases was a lymph node found within the nephrectomy specimen itself. More than 60% of respondents noted that in some instances, or always, fresh tissue was harvested for research purposes.

    There was some variation in the methods used for determining capsule penetration by tumour, although the majority of respondents reported that they preferred to slice the extratumoral tissue, as well as the tumour, perpendicular to the capsular surface.

    Reported sampling methods varied, with the majority of respondents noting that they sliced the tumours at 10 mm intervals and took one section for each centimetre of the maximum tumour diameter. In the case of multifocal tumours the majority of respondents noted that they sampled each tumour present.

    All respondents reported that they take sections of normal renal parenchyma, while 80% of these sampled tissues far from the tumour, as well as normal tissues immediately adjacent to the tumour edge. Sections of renal pelvis tissue as well as grossly normal hilar vessels were almost always sampled. Although sections were taken from sinus fat that was grossly suspicious for tumour invasion in almost 100% of instances, there was variation in sampling protocols with the majority taking two to three sections from this area (figure 1A). The majority of respondents also reported that they sectioned sinus fat that appeared grossly normal and that they undertook complete sampling of the renal sinus margin. Almost all respondents noted that they sampled any macroscopically normal adrenal gland if this was with the renal specimen.

    Figure 1
    Figure 1

    (A) Clear cell carcinoma with renal sinus invasion. Lens magnification 5×. (B) Papillary carcinoma type 1. Lens magnification 20×. (C) Papillary carcinoma type 2. Lens magnification 20×. (D) Clear cell carcinoma grade 4 with necrosis. Lens magnification 20×. (E) Papillary carcinoma with positive immunostaining for cytokeratin 7. Lens magnification 20×. (F) Oncocytoma with patchy cytokeratin 7 positivity. Lens magnification 20×.

    Fewer than 20% of respondents regularly inked renal surgical margins of radical nephrectomy specimens. The majority noted, however, that they would ink margins if they were grossly suspicious of tumour invasion, although 15% of respondents noted that they would never do so. The situation differed for partial nephrectomy specimens in which 81% of respondents reported that they always ink the renal surgical margin.

    Specimen reporting

    The detailed results regarding specimen reporting are shown in tables 5–10.

    View this table:
    Table 5

    Reporting of tumour size

    View this table:
    Table 6

    Grading and staging of renal cell tumours

    View this table:
    Table 7

    Reporting of other features of renal tumours

    View this table:
    Table 8

    Ancillary techniques use for reporting of renal tumours

    View this table:
    Table 9

    Classification of renal tumours

    View this table:
    Table 10

    Reporting of other features of nephrectomy specimens

    All respondents noted that they measured the size of the tumour and in the majority of instances three separate dimensions were recorded. The majority of the respondents also measured the size of individual tumours in the case of multifocal neoplasia. Almost all respondents employed the WHO classification for assigning tumour type, although most of these would also utilise more recently described diagnostic tumour terminology.

    The majority of respondents required more than the presence of epithelial cell elongation before rendering a diagnosis of sarcomatoid carcinoma. For small papillary tumours most respondents followed the recommendations of the 2004 WHO classification, considering tumours less than 5 mm in diameter as benign. While few placed any significance on the degree of nuclear pleomorphism, almost all respondents subtyped papillary renal cell carcinoma as type 1 or type 2 (figure 1B,C), and a similarly high proportion noted that they report any papillary microadenomas found incidentally in nephrectomy specimens.

    There was almost universal use of the Fuhrman grading system and most recognised necrosis in clear cell carcinoma to be of prognostic significance (figure 1D), although only a minority reported the percentage of necrosis in these tumours. Routine immunohistochemistry was used as an adjunct to histological typing only in some instances (figure 1E,F), while fluorescence in-situ hybridisation (FISH) and other ancillary studies were only rarely used for diagnostic purposes in difficult cases.

    The majority of respondents utilised the current Union for International Cancer Control tumour–node–metastasis (TNM) staging criteria to assign a pT category to the tumour, although only one-third specified the edition of the TNM classification utilised in the report. Only a small number of the respondents noted that they stage oncocytoma.

    The definition of infiltration of perinephric or hilar fat varied, although the majority of the respondents preferred to consider this to be present only when tumour was in direct contact with adipose tissue. Most respondents noted that they reported the status of surgical margins. This latter parameter was considered more important in partial nephrectomy specimens in which almost 100% of respondents reported that they described the surgical margin status. Surprisingly, over a quarter of the respondents did not specifically look for disease in the adjacent non-tumoral kidney and only 50% stated they searched for premalignant lesions in apparently normal renal parenchyma.

    Discussion

    In this study we have investigated the habits of European specialist uropathologists for the reporting of neoplastic nephrectomy specimens. As we have noted previously, studies of this nature often suffer from selection bias due to the over-representation of academic pathologists in the study cohort.12 For this study; however, almost half of the respondents noted that their main practice was in a public general hospital, rather than in an academic institution. Furthermore, consensus recommendations should preferably be based on evidence rather than on the current practice of the majority of pathologists. Yet, it is useful to know which routines are already common so realistic recommendations can be issued in consensus documents. If the gap between guidelines and current practice becomes too wide, the credibility of the guidelines will decrease.

    Interestingly, almost half of the respondents reported that they receive kidney specimens in the fresh state. Despite this, only 20% of tumours were routinely harvested of fresh tissue for research purposes. Lymphadenectomy specimens were rarely received and lymph nodes were detected in nephrectomy specimens only on rare occasions. This practice reflects that reported in the USA, where lymph nodes are rarely sampled and where lymphadenectomy is not generally performed.10 13 It has been estimated that only 5% of radical nephrectomy specimens have lymph nodes detectable in adipose tissue, these being most frequently seen in hilar tissue surrounding major vessels.8 10 13

    Most respondents did not routinely ink surgical margins of radical nephrectomy specimens, although this is recommended in some tumour protocols. This practice is not surprising as the completeness of excision is usually detectable on gross examination. For partial nephrectomy specimens over 80% reported that they did ink surgical margins, while a majority never or very rarely received intraoperative frozen sections in accordance with evidence-based recommended practice.14

    Few guidelines exist regarding the extent of sampling of tumours and the respondents in the survey appear to sample widely, with a majority using the algorithm of one section per centimetre diameter of tumour.7 Almost all respondents took sections from all tumours in cases of multifocal neoplasia. Recent evidence has shown that, especially in the setting of renal scarring, several different tumour morphotypes may coexist.15 16 As the type of renal neoplasia is an important prognostic parameter it would seem prudent that all tumour foci be sampled.

    Staging of renal cell carcinoma is recognised as the singularly most powerful prognostic indicator for these tumours and assessment of this necessitates careful examination by the reporting pathologist.17 Tumour size and evidence of local invasion are integral to the assignment of a TNM staging category.

    All respondents noted that they reported the greatest tumour diameter, while just under 50% of respondents reported that they measured the tumour in three dimensions. It has been noted that there is a discrepancy between the radiological size and diameter of tumours as reported from the gross specimen, which may show up to a 10% variance.18 19 The reason for this discrepancy remains uncertain and highlights the need for consensus regarding the measurement of tumours in gross specimens. This may necessitate the development of a consistent measurement of tumour volume rather than the assessment of a single diameter.

    Evidence of infiltration of tumour beyond the renal capsule or into the renal sinus is indicative of regional extension of tumour.20 In a number of published protocols it is recommended that where tumour approaches close to the renal capsule, sections should include tumour, renal capsule and adjacent perirenal fat, so as to facilitate the identification of perirenal fat infiltration. Almost 70% of participants noted that, when searching for capsule penetration they took perpendicular slices into the tumour, although 30% of the respondents preferred to separate fat and underlying renal capsule/tumour, despite the fact that this may obliterate evidence of early extension into pericapsular adipose tissue.

    There was some variability in the definitions employed by respondents to define extrarenal extension of tumour. One-third accepted spread of tumour beyond the renal surface as evidence of invasion, while two-thirds required tumour to be in direct contact with perirenal fat. In published reporting protocols the infiltration of adipose disease is considered diagnostic of extrarenal spread,8 10 while the TNM classification simply requires direct invasion of perirenal tissues for staging category pT3a.20 In view of this dichotomy there is clearly a need for the development of an evidenced-based consensus on the defining features of extrarenal spread.

    It is well recognised that infiltration of the renal sinus is underrecognised, especially in tumour series collected before 2004, when the importance of renal sinus infiltration was first reported.21 Renal sinus infiltration is an important prognostic factor, with incorporation of this feature into the TNM classification as category pT3a. Despite this, only two-thirds of respondents reported that they undertook complete sampling of the renal sinus margin, while slightly over 70% took sections from grossly normal renal sinus adipose tissue. Almost all respondents reported that they took sections from apparently abnormal renal sinus fat, although in 20% of cases this was limited to one tissue slice and in more than 80% of cases this was limited to a maximum of three sections. There is good evidence to suggest that there is an association between tumour size and the presence of renal sinus invasion,22–24 especially for clear cell renal cell carcinomas and as such it would seem more logical that pT2 tumours defined according to the current TNM classification be re-assigned as pT3a. For the present it would seem reasonable to suggest that extensive sampling of the renal sinus be recommended and that a standardised approach to this be adopted, especially for those tumours that are either situated in the central portion of the kidney or are greater than 5 cm in maximum extent.

    Over 90% of genitourinary pathologists circulated in the survey reported that they included a comment regarding the stage of the tumour in their report. Well over three-quarters of respondents did so utilising the latest edition of the TNM classification. Somewhat surprisingly, only one-third of respondents; however, reported that they specified which edition of the classification was used. This is of some significance as small but important changes have been made to the defining features of renal tumour staging in the various editions of the UICC TNM classification.17 20 As a consequence, the prognostic significance of tumour staging is somewhat negated if the clinician is unaware of the criteria the pathologist has employed in assigning a pT category to the specimen. Of interest, 6.3% reported that they staged oncocytomas, despite the fact that these are universally recognised as benign tumours.

    Most respondents reported that they employed the 2004 WHO renal tumour classification. They also appeared to be willing to embrace newly identified entities, preferring to abandon the recommendation in the WHO classification that novel tumours be classified as renal cell carcinoma.25 Although the classification of the tumours in the WHO classification is based upon morphological criteria, virtually all participants utilised immunohistochemical staining, at least occasionally. Despite the evidence that FISH is an important diagnostic adjunct for some renal tumours,26 27 this was rarely employed.

    There was considerable divergence noted in the survey in the reporting of small papillary tumours, with only slightly over half of respondents following the 2004 WHO recommendations.25 A quarter of respondents preferred to use the term ‘papillary tumour’ for small papillary neoplasms, which has the potential to create uncertainty with respect to subsequent patient management. There is considerable evidence to indicate that papillary adenomas, as defined in the 2004 WHO classification, follow a benign clinical course, and in view of the frequency that these lesions are detected in routine practice,28 29 it would seem alarmist that they were classified as anything but benign. There was strong support for dividing papillary renal cell carcinomas according to morphotype.30

    Numerous prognostic parameters have been proposed for the main types of renal cell carcinoma, however, few of these are applied in routine clinical practice.

    Most respondents recognised tumour grade, sarcomatoid differentiation, the presence of tumour necrosis and lymphovascular infiltration to be prognostic markers worthy of reporting. Despite the problems associated with the validity and application of the Fuhrman grading classification,17 31–33 it is clear from the survey that it remains in almost universal usage. Almost all participants in the survey recognised the prognostic importance of sarcomatoid differentiation, with 90% following the recommendations of the 2004 WHO classification and diagnosing this in the context of the parent tumour type. Although almost 30% of respondents considered early sarcomatoid change (elongation of epithelial cells) as diagnostic of sarcomatoid carcinoma, this is specifically excluded in studies on sarcomatoid carcinoma.34 Furthermore, it has been shown that cells showing early sarcomatoid change express collagen types that differ from those of typical sarcomatoid carcinoma cells.35

    The presence of coagulative necrosis of tumour cells has been shown to be of prognostic significance, especially for clear cell and chromophobe renal cell carcinoma.36–38 Not surprisingly, relatively few pathologists reported that they quantified the amount of necrosis, presumably due to difficulties in assessing this, but also because the amount of necrosis present does not appear to have prognostic significance.39

    In a series of T1 and T2 tumours intrarenal microvascular invasion has been shown to be of prognostic significance independent of pT category, grade and perineural fat invasion.40 Despite this, lymphovascular invasion is not a feature of UICC TNM staging, although it was widely recognised to be an important prognostic parameter by participants in the survey.

    Over half of the respondents noted that they searched for premalignant lesions within the non-neoplastic kidney. While small papillary tumours are frequently seen, other potentially premalignant lesions are less common in the setting of sporadic rather than familial neoplasia.41 Several morphotypes of renal cell carcinoma have been associated with acquired cystic renal disease and all solid areas in these kidneys should be sampled.42

    Finally three-quarters of respondents reported that they excluded non-neoplastic pathology within the kidney. It has been noted that coincidental non-neoplastic pathology is present in over 16% of kidneys, with diabetic nephropathy predominating.43 Hypertensive nephropathy, IgA nephropathy, focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, thrombotic microangiopathy and amyloidosis are less frequently encountered.44 This may have significant prognostic consequences and as such it is recommended that all kidneys should be appropriately sampled and examined to exclude coexisting pathology.

    In summary, this study has shown that European pathologists closely follow international guidelines for the sampling and reporting of renal tumours and that the majority of discrepancies arise in areas where guidelines are unclear. In view of this it would appear that it is now timely to update and expand consensus on the evaluation and reporting of adult renal carcinomas.

    Take-home messages

    A survey among urological pathologists in 15 European countries on handling and reporting of renal tumour specimens shows that there is a general compliance with current guidelines and classifications, but in some areas there is considerable variation in practice. There is an awareness that for correct staging, there is a need to sample the renal sinus fat, but there is a variation in how this is done and the interpretation of microscopic evidence of perinephric or hilar fat infiltration. Similarly, the diameter of the tumour must be reported but methods for measurement vary widely which may affect stage assignment. The Fuhrman system is almost universally used for grading of renal cancer. The 2004 WHO Classification is generally used for assignment of tumour type, but most pathologists would also report more recently described tumour entities.

    Acknowledgments

    The authors would like to thank those ENUP members who participated in the survey for their support.

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    Footnotes

    • The first two authors contributed equally to the study.

    • Competing interests None.

    • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.