Primary Carcinoid Tumor of the Renal Pelvis Arising From Intestinal Metaplasia: An Unusual Histogenetic Pathway?

OBJECTIVES: Primary carcinoid tumor of the renal pelvis is a rare neoplasm with few cases reported in the literature. Here we present the clinical and histopathologic findings of a primary carcinoid tumor arising in the left renal pelvis of a horseshoe kidney in a 61-year-old female patient.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Pathologic features were evaluated with standard hematoxylin and eosin sections and immunohistochemical studies. A literature review was performed to place our case in context to previous reports.

RESULTS: The tumor was associated with intestinal metaplasia with high-grade dysplasia and neuroendocrine hyperplasia. Molecular testing for microsatellite instability and loss of heterozygosity were negative.

CONCLUSIONS: This report portrays a unique presentation of carcinoid tumor arising from intestinal metaplasia of the pelvic urothelium, and supports its histogenesis from urothelial intestinal metaplasia and neuroendocrine hyperplasia.