Primary Malignant Neuroepithelial Tumors of the Kidney

Primary malignant neuroepithelial tumors of the kidney (NETKs) comprise a group of primitive, highly malignant neoplasms that histologically and clinically are not well characterized. A large cohort of 146 of these tumors, occurring in adults and children, has been collected at a single depository site, the National Wilms' Tumor Study Group (NWTSG) Pathology Center. The authors undertook a systematic retrospective review of the histologic, ultrastructural, and clinical features of these tumors, based on materials collected by the NWTSG and the consultation files of one of the authors (J.B.B.). Histologic features were generally those of primitive neural tumors with varying amounts of rosettes and neuropil; however, a large proportion of cases displayed unusual features such as spindle cells, ganglion cells, clear cell sarcoma-like foci, rhabdoid cells, epithelioid cells, and organoid foci. CD99 staining had been performed on 69 cases and showed membranous staining in 65. The NETKs were present in patients with a wide age spectrum, ranging from 1 month to 72 years (median, 18 years). EWS/FLI1 fusion analysis using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemical stains for cytokeratin, chromogranin, and epithelial membrane antigen were performed successfully on a subset of 45 cases with available paraffin blocks. Only 13 of the 45 were fusion-positive, and there was no correlation between fusion status and histology, presence of rosettes, ultrastructural features, or cytokeratin positivity. CD99-negative cases were usually fusion-negative (six of seven cases), and all three chromogranin-positive cases were fusion-negative. Tumor staging, performed on 72 clearly defined and quantifiable cases by using NWTSG criteria, indicated that these are aggressive tumors, because only six were Stage 1, compared with 16 Stage 2, 31 Stage 3, and 19 Stage 4 lesions. The authors conclude that NETKs are a somewhat diverse group of generally aggressive, high-grade lesions that may present in a wide age range and are difficult to characterize without immunohistochemistry and cytogenetics/molecular biology.