Sarcomatoid renal pelvis carcinoma: Experience of treatment at a single-institution

Sarcomatoid renal pelvis carcinoma (SRPC) is a rare variant of RPC. We aimed to summarize the clinicopathological features and prognostic factors of SRPC.

In this retrospective study, we collected data from 24 patients with SRPC who were treated at the Department of Urology, Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University between 2008 and 2021. The clinicopathological features of the patients were obtained from their medical records to evaluate the diagnosis, prognostic factors, and response to systemic therapy.

Immunohistochemical staining revealed that cytokeratin was expressed in 19 patients with SRPC, while vimentin was expressed in all patients. Computer tomography showed these tumors as low-density (n = 12) or mixed-density masses, with or without necrotic areas (n = 12). All patients showed different degrees of enhancement on computed tomography. Lymph node metastasis was present in 6 patients and distant metastasis in 5. The median survival of all patients was 28 months. Patients without metastasis had a median survival of 46 months compared with 18 months in those with metastasis (P < 0.05). Necrosis had no significant influence on prognosis (P > 0.05). The median survival of patients with and without hydronephrosis was 18 and 104 months (P < 0.05). Among patients without metastasis, those without hydronephrosis survived longer than those with hydronephrosis (104 vs 18 months, P < 0.05), and necrosis had no effect on prognosis. In patients with metastasis, necrosis and hydronephrosis had no effect on prognosis (P > 0.05).

The prognosis of SRPC is poor, and the clinical stage, particularly the presence of distant metastasis, has a significant impact on prognosis.