Renal oncocytoma: a true clinical entity?

Seven cases of renal oncocytoma, representing 4.10% of nephrectomies for tumors of the renal parenchyma between May 1978 and May 1985, are presented. From a thorough analysis of the literature and a comparison of these cases with well-differentiated, noninvasive clear-cell carcinomas, it can be concluded that renal oncocytoma is a variant of the wide spectrum of renal carcinomas. Hence, its clinical and therapeutical approach must not differ from that of the rest of the parenchymatous renal tumors.