ABSTRACT

Renal tumour incidence has a positive correlation to widely use of radiological imaging methods. It is clearly understandable that renal tumours are a wide spectrum of tumors and not an unique entity day by day. Histopathological classification is changing in time. Molecular and genetic studies besides the realization of tumours with different morphology leads to current classifications. However 2004 WHO classification is mainly accepted in recent practice. Tubulocystic carcinoma, thyroid-like (follicular) renal carcinoma, clear cell papillary renal cell carcinoma, acquired cystic disease–associated renal cell carcinoma and leiomyomatous renal cell carcinomas are new candidates waiting for addition to histological classification. Histological type has a predictive value besides pathological stage and histological grade for tumor! prognosis. For this reason, histopathological diagnosis of different morphologies in nephrectomies and tissue biopsies has a vital importance. Immunohistochemical studies may aid to determine the histological type in complex cases. Molecular and genetic methods are also used to classify tumors while giving clues for understanding the pathogenesis of renal tumours. These studies also highlights the available targeted therapies in near future. The aim of this article is to review recent literature on histological classification of renal tumours.