[Diagnostic and therapeutic problems in renal oncocytomas]

Renal oncocytomas are a well-defined tumor entity and can be differentiated from renal cell carcinomas both from the histological point of view and the clinical course. An illustration of three case reports and a review of the literature underline the diagnostic and therapeutic dilemma in the management of this tumor-type. At present no pre- or intraoperative diagnostic means are available for definite differentiation of pure renal oncocytomas from renal cell carcinomas. Because of this lack of reliable diagnostic means therapeutic management of oncocytomas will continue to be in nephrectomy. In a minority of the reported cases oncocytomas were found in a bilateral or multicentric manifestation thus requiring a more conservative surgical management as recommended for bilateral hypernephromas.