[Kidney cancer (modern concepts of its histogenesis, nomenclature and classification)]

Using their own and literature data the authors recommend that malignant epithelial renal tumors be termed as "renal carcinoma" or "renal cell carcinoma". The term "hypernephroid carcinoma" which is of only historical importance may be used as a synonym of clear cell renal carcinoma. Designation of all forms of renal carcinoma by the general term "renal adenocarcinoma" does not reflect all the diversity of structure of malignant epithelial renal tumors. This term may be used only in those cases where the "glandular" structure of the tumor is adequately evident. Four main forms of renal carcinoma may be distinguished according to the predominant morphological characteristics: clear-cell, granular-cell spindle-cell (sarcoma-like), and glandular (adenocarcinoma proper). According to the authors' data, 41% of renal carcinomas are represented by mixed forms.