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Heavily melanotic perivascular epithelioid clear cell tumor of the kidney
Author(s) -
Adachi Shiro,
Hanada Masato,
Kobayashi Yoshiyuki,
Tsutahara Kohichi,
Fukuhara Shinichiro,
Mori Naoki,
Hara Tsuneo,
Mukai Hideyo,
Shimasaku Emi,
Kawai Masaru,
Kishikawa Naoto,
Yamaguchi Seiji
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
pathology international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.73
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1440-1827
pISSN - 1320-5463
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1827.2004.01617.x
Subject(s) - perivascular epithelioid cell , pathology , immunohistochemistry , melanin , epithelioid cell , hmb 45 , clear cell , staining , biology , renal cell carcinoma , cytoplasm , melanoma , medicine , cancer research , microbiology and biotechnology , genetics
A black‐colored and well‐circumscribed renal tumor in a 71‐year‐old woman is reported. The tumor was unique in that it was rich in vasculature and exclusively composed of perivascular epithelioid clear cells. Morphological features were reminiscent of conventional renal cell carcinoma (RCC). However, immunohistochemical examinations showed that the tumor cells did not express any epithelial markers, but diffusely and intensely expressed a melanocytic marker, gp‐100/HMB‐45. Another striking feature of the tumor was a large amount of cytoplasmic pigment that made the tumor wholly black. The pigment was not stained with Berlin‐blue, completely bleached with potassium permanganate, and stained with Fontana‐Masson staining, which suggests that the pigment was melanin. Morphological features and immunohistochemical findings indicated that the present tumor was an extreme example of a perivascular epithelioid clear cell tumor with a large amount of melanin, which has not been previously reported. One should be aware of the pure form of perivascular epithelioid clear cell tumor of the kidney because it is sometimes very difficult to differentiate this tumor from conventional RCC. Immunohistochemical examinations and the presence of cytoplasmic melanin can help the differentiation.