Renal epithelioid angiomyolipoma with malignant features: Histological evaluation and novel immunohistochemical findings

Pathol Int. 2014 Mar;64(3):133-41. doi: 10.1111/pin.12142.

Abstract

Renal epithelioid angiomyolipoma (EAML) is a potentially malignant tumor type whose characteristics and biomarkers predictive of malignant behavior have not been elucidated. Here, we report three cases of renal EAML with malignant features but without histories of tuberous sclerosis complex. Case 1 involved a 29-year-old man with a 12-cm solid mass in the right kidney who underwent radical right nephrectomy. Case 2 involved a 22-year-old woman with a retroperitoneal mass who underwent radical right nephrectomy and retroperitoneal tumorectomy. Local recurrence was detected 7 years post-surgery. Case 3 involved a 23-year-old man with a 14-cm solid mass in the left kidney who underwent radical left nephrectomy. Microscopically, the tumors in all cases demonstrated proliferation of epithelioid cells with atypia, mitotic activity, necrosis, hemorrhage, and vascular invasion. Epithelioid cells in all cases were immunohistochemically positive for melanocytic and myoid markers and weakly positive for E-cadherin and β-catenin. Immunohistochemistry revealed activation of the mammalian target of rapamycin pathway. Here, we report the morphological and immunohistochemical features of clinically or histologically malignant renal EAML.

Keywords: E-cadherin; epithelioid angiomyolipoma; mTOR; malignant angiomyolipoma; β-catenin.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Angiomyolipoma / metabolism
  • Angiomyolipoma / pathology*
  • Angiomyolipoma / surgery
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / metabolism
  • Cadherins / metabolism
  • Epithelioid Cells / metabolism
  • Epithelioid Cells / pathology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Kidney Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Kidney Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Kidney Neoplasms / surgery
  • Male
  • Nephrectomy
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Young Adult
  • beta Catenin / metabolism

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • Cadherins
  • beta Catenin