Nuclear morphometry in the differential diagnosis of eosinophilic renal epithelial tumors.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the potential contribution of nuclear morphometry to the differential diagnosis of renal epithelial tumors with eosinophilic cytoplasm, including chromophobe renal cell carcinoma (ChRCC), the eosinophilic variant of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (EoRCC), and oncocytoma.

STUDY DESIGN: A total of 24 tumor tissue samples diagnosed as ChRCC, the EoRCC, or oncocytoma constituted our series. Eight geometric features such as nuclear area, nuclear perimeter, and circular form factor were measured and compared among the groups.

RESULT: On the basis of nuclear morphometry, measurements of eight geometric features significantly differ among these problematic eosinophilic renal epithelial neoplasms (p < 0.005).

CONCLUSION: Because of their different biologic behaviors, the exact discrimination of the renal epithelial tumors with eosinophilic cytoplasm is crucial. However, this distinction can sometimes be problematic even for highly experienced pathologists. Our results suggest that the morphometric nuclear shape descriptors may be used as an ancillary method in their differential diagnosis.