World Health Organization 2022 Classification Update: Radiologic and Pathologic Features of Papillary Renal Cell Carcinomas

Rationale and Objectives

To describe imaging and pathology features of newly defined papillary renal cell carcinoma (pRCC) based on the WHO 2022 update.

Materials and Methods

This retrospective study included 87 patients with 93 pathologically proven papillary renal cell carcinomas who underwent pre-treatment renal mass protocol CT or MRI. Baseline and post-treatment follow-up imaging was evaluated by two radiologists systematically based on established lexicon.

Results

At pathology, 63 (68%) were grade 1–2, 29 (31%) were grade 3–4, and 1 (%) was unreported. At surgical pathology, 84 (90%) were localized (≤pT2b), 5 (5%) were pT3a, and none were ≥pT3b; 4 (4%) had unknown pT stage (core biopsies). 33 (35%) had necrosis and 39 (41%) had hemorrhage. None had sarcomatoid or rhabdoid differentiation. At imaging, 73 (83%) were solid and 16 (17%) were cystic. Of 16 cystic masses, four were Bosniak class IIF (three were heterogeneously T1 hyperintense) and 12 were class IV. All were well-circumscribed. 92 (99%) were hypovascular. Median follow-up for 74 patients was 30 months (IQR 12–56). One untreated patient had non-regional nodal metastasis at presentation, and one patient had metastasis to lymph nodes and bones after surgery, but the patient had unresected renal masses elsewhere without pathology. Otherwise, no recurrence or metastases were detected.

Conclusion

Most pRCCs present as a hypovascular, circumscribed, solid renal mass. A few pRCCs present as the newly defined Bosniak class IIF subtype. Our results can form the basis of a non-invasive, likelihood score to identify this relatively indolent pathology in the era of virtual biopsy and active surveillance.