Primary primitive neuroectodermal tumor of the kidney. Case report and review of the literature

Small cell tumors are a heterogeneous group of neoplasms with similar morphologic features. They include lymphomas, carcinomas with variable degrees of neuroendocrine differentiation, rhabdomyosarcomas, and neuroblastomas. The authors describe a rare case of primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET) located in the kidney that was thoroughly studied with modern diagnostic techniques, including expression of protein P 30/32 MIC2 with the antibody 013 with subsequent demonstration of a genetic translocation consistent with t(11;22). The literature on small cell tumors of the kidney, with special emphasis on PNET, is reviewed.