Cytomorphology of papillary renal neoplasm with reverse polarity

Papillary renal neoplasm with reverse nuclear polarity (PRNRP) is an emerging oncocytic renal tumor. Cytomorphologic features of this tumor have not been described in the literature before. The objective of this study was to review the cytomorphology of a case PRNRP and compare with cytomorphologic features of papillary renal cell carcinomas (pRCCs) reported in the literature. 1 case of core needle biopsy (CNB) with touch preparation (TP) of a renal mass diagnosed as PRNRP was reviewed retrospectively. Clinical presentation, cytomorphologic features, ancillary tests and histopathology results were analyzed. The touch preparation was cellular and showed tight 3-D clusters of cuboidal epithelial cells with variable presence of fibrovascular cores (FC), granular eosinophilic cytoplasm, round apically located grade 1 nuclei compared to cases of pRCC that consistently showed presence of FCs lined by cuboidal to columnar epithelial cells with variable degree of cytologic atypia. Features characteristic of pRCC like foamy macrophages, hemosiderin laden macrophages, nuclear grooves or psammoma bodies were not present. No necrosis or mitosis were identified. By immunohistochemistry (IHC) the tumor cells were positive for cytokeratin 7, GATA-3 and AMACR (focal) and negative for CA-IX, CD117 and vimentin. Cytomorphologic features of PRNRP are unique and characterized by tight 3-D clusters (with or without FCs) of cuboidal cells with small round apically located nuclei and finely granular oncocytic cytoplasm. Specific diagnosis of PRNRP on cytology or CNB is feasible along with use of ancillary tests IHC and /or molecular tests.