Prognostic significance of morphologic parameters in renal cell carcinoma

Many morphologic parameters have been used in prognostic studies in renal cell carcinoma. In this study, the relationship between these parameters and prognosis was investigated. This study includes 75 patients who were treated with radical nephrectomy between 1985 and 2001. Pathological stage (TNM), grade (Fuhrman nuclear grade) cell type (UICC and AJCC), histologic pattern, tumour size, vascular invasion and multifocality were used as prognostic parameters. There were 34 female and 41 male patients with mean age of 54.5 +/- 12.5. The mean size of the tumour was 76.9 +/- 37.2 (30-200) mm. Of the patients, 40 had pT1, 21 pT2, nine pT3 and two pT4 diseases. Twenty-eight patients had Grade 1, 29 Grade 2, 15 Grade 3 and three Grade 4 tumour. According to cell type, 63 had clear cell, six papillary and six undifferentiated types. Five had multifocal and seven had vascular invasion. In conclusion, nuclear grade and tumour stage were found as the most important prognostic indicators.