Two cases of eosinophilic variant chromophobe renal cell carcinoma, with a rare association of right atrial myxoma in one of them.

Chromophobe renal cell carcinoma is a relatively uncommon variant of renal cell carcinoma. Eosinophilic variant of chromophobe renal cell carcinoma (EVCRCC) is still less frequent and is composed predominantly of small to medium-sized cells with abundant granular eosinophilic cytoplasm. We report two cases of EVCRCC, with one having a rare association of right atrial myxoma. We present these cases, due to the rarity of EVCRCC and an unusual association of right atrial myxoma in one of them. Both patients recovered well after surgery, with no recurrence or metastasis after 2 years of follow-up.

INTRODUCTION

Chromophobe renal cell carcinoma (CRCC) comprise about 5% of all renal neoplasms, described in 1985 by Thoenes.[12] Both sporadic and hereditary forms exist. The prognosis is good and the mortality rate is less than 10%.[3-5] The typical variant is common and composed of cells with thick well-defined borders, raisinoid nuclei, and abundant pale granular cytoplasm. Eosinophilic variant of chromophobe renal cell carcinoma (EVCRCC) is less frequent and is composed of small- to medium-sized cells with abundant granular eosinophilic cytoplasm.[2] Atrial myxomas are rare benign tumors of the heart with incidence of 0.001--0.33%.[6] The coexistence of both EVCRCC and atrial myxoma in a single patient has never been reported in the world literature. One of our cases had EVCRCC and right atrial myxoma which was clinically misdiagnosed as metastatic thrombus.

CASE REPORTS

Case 1

A 55-year-old male, presented with painless intermittent hematuria for 3 months and recent onset of breathlessness. On examination a vague mass was palpable in the right lumbar region. Urine analysis showed hematuria and biochemical examination revealed elevated levels of blood urea of 46 mg/dl and serum creatinine of 1.7 mg/dl. The hematological investigations were within normal limits. Computerized tomography (CT) of abdomen revealed a heterogeneously enhancing mass measuring 9 × 8 cm in the upper pole of the right kidney extending into the calyces and renal pelvis [Figure 1a]. CT thorax and transesophageal echo showed a 3 × 3 cm mass lesion in the right atrium, attached to the interatrial septum. Right radical nephrectomy with atrial mass excision was done in single setting. On gross examination, kidney revealed an ill-circumscribed tan gray tumor occupying the upper pole measuring 8 × 7 cm, extending into the renal medulla [Figure 1b]. The atrial mass was globular, circumscribed, dark brown gelatinous tissue measuring 4 × 3 cm [Figure 2a]. Microscopy of the atrial mass showed myxoid areas, stellate cells, multinucleate giant cells, proliferation of blood vessels, and areas of hemorrhage [Figure 2b]. Histologically, the renal tumor showed small- to medium-sized cells with abundant granular eosinophilic cytoplasm (type 1 cells) arranged in sheets and trabeculae [Figure 3a]. Few polygonal cells with distinct cell borders, pleomorphic nuclei with raisinoid appearance, perinuclear halo, and abundant pale granular eosinophilic cytoplasm (type 2 and 3 cells) were also seen. Renal vein, artery, capsule, and gerotas fascia were free from the tumor. Colloidal iron stain was positive with diffuse cytoplasmic reticular staining [Figure 3b]. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) showed positivity for cytokeratin (CK) 7 with peripheral cell accentuation and negativity for vimentin. The final diagnosis of EVCRCC (Furhman grade II, stage II) with right atrial myxoma was made.

Figure 1

(a) CT scan of the abdomen showing a heterogeneously enhancing mass lesion in the right kidney. (b) Gross specimen of the right kidney (case 1) showing an ill-circumscribed tan gray tumor occupying the upper pole extending into the renal pelvis. (c) Gross specimen of the left kidney (case 2) showing a gray tan tumor occupying the upper pole

Figure 2

(a) Gross specimen of the right atrial myxoma comprising globular circumscribed, dark brown gelatinous mass with the attachment area to the endocardium (arrow). (b) Microphotograph of the right atrial myxoma showing myxoid areas, stellate cells, proliferation of blood vessels, and areas of hemorrhage. (Hematoxylin and Eosin stain, ×10 )

Figure 3

(a) Microphotograph of EVCRCC composed predominantly of small to medium-sized cells with abundant granular eosinophilic cytoplasm (type 1 cells) arranged in trabeculae and nests (×10, Hematoxylin and Eosin stain). (b) Colloidal iron special stain showing diffuse cytoplasmic reticular positivity (×10)

Case 2

A 60-year-old female presented with intermittent painless hematuria since 1 month. Abdominal examination revealed a vague mass in the left lumbar region. Serum biochemical examination and hematological investigations were within normal limits. Urine examination revealed hematuria. CT abdomen showed a heterogenous mass lesion measuring 9 × 8.5 cm in the upper pole of the left kidney. Nephrectomy specimen showed a tan gray tumor involving the upper pole measuring 7 × 6.5 cm [Figure 1c]. Microscopy and IHC were similar to the previous case. The final diagnosis of EVCRCC (Furhman grade II, stage II) was done.

DISCUSSION

The EVCRCC occurs in the age group 27-86 years and are solid circumscribed tumors measuring from 1 to 30 cm. Multifocality and bilaterality are present in 8% and 3%, respectively. In unfixed specimens, the cut surface is homogeneously light brown or tan turning light gray after formalin fixation.[3] Tumors with large size, necrosis, and sarcomatoid change are known to have worse prognosis.[35] Hence, a thorough search for any evidence of sarcomatoid transformation and areas of tumor necrosis is warranted when a diagnosis of CRCC is made.[25] Our both cases were free from necrosis and sarcomatoid transformation. Osseous metaplasia, neuroendocrine, and rhabdoid differentiation can rarely coexist with EVCRCC.[357-9] Thoenes et al. reported 32 cases of CRCC, out of which 10 were EVCRCC.[7] Amin et al. studied 145 cases of CRCC, out of which 60 were eosinophilic variant.[4] In both these studies, all were isolated cases of EVCRCC. However, one of our case had rare coexistence of EVCRCC with right atrial myxoma, which is the first case reported in the world literature. IHC of EVCRCC shows positivity for CK 7 and negativity for vimentin. Ultrastructurally, the cytoplasm is crowded with numerous 150-300 nm invaginated vesicles. EVCRCC is likely to be mistaken for oncocytoma because of the predominance of type 1 cells. The points helping in differentiating include the following: EVCRCC have tumor cells arranged in sheets, as opposed to nested and tubular pattern in oncocytoma, the wrinkled or raisinoid nuclear morphology in EVCRCC as opposed to the round, hyperchromatic nuclei in oncocytoma, well-defined cell borders with the presence of type 2 and type 3 cells in EVCRCC contrast to only type 1 cells in oncocytoma, Hale's colloidal iron stain showing diffuse reticular cytoplasmic positivity in EVCRCC, whereas oncocytomas displaying focal positive staining confined to the luminal borders. Our both cases showed diffuse reticular cytoplasmic colloidal iron staining and positivity for CK 7, hence ruling out oncocytoma. A literature search reveals that many immunomarkers were used to differentiate EVCRCC and oncocytoma like caveolin 1, kidney-specific cadherin, and parvalbubin, but CK7 was potentially the most efficient one.[10-12] Ultrastructurally, the oncocytoma cells are packed with mitochondria and the cells in EVCRCC have numerous microvesicles in the cytoplasm. Most literature suggests that EVCRCC is a tumor of low malignant potential with reported 5-year and 10-year survival rates of 78-100% and 80-90%, respectively.[2] Both of our cases are doing well 2 years following surgery.

Myxomas usually occur between third to sixth decades and are common in women. They usually occur sporadically, but 7% are associated with autosomal dominant syndromes. Arising from the endocardium, myxomas usually extend into a cardiac chamber and are common in left atria. The common complications include embolism, intracardiac obstruction, and constitutional symptoms.[13] In our first case, since the right atrial mass was diagnosed as myxoma, the staging of EVCRCC was reduced from stage III to stage II.

The pathogenesis of both EVCRCC and cardiac myxomas are entirely different.[13] Both occurring in one patient has never been reported. We hereby conclude that in a known case of renal cell carcinoma, even though organized thrombi or degenerating metastatic deposits in atrium is common, however, a remote possibility of myxoma needs to be thought off so that staging can be correctly done and treated accordingly.