Clinical and pathological analysis of primary well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumors in the kidney- a case series

Abstract Objective To investigate the clinicopathological characteristics and key diagnostic/therapeutic features of primary well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumors (WDNET) of the kidney. Methods Retrospective analysis of 4 primary renal WDNET patients, including clinical features, pathological fi...

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Main Authors: Dan Yuan, Jing Wu, Dong-Yue Wang, Jin-Jing Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-07-01
Series:BMC Urology
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12894-025-01855-y
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author Dan Yuan
Jing Wu
Dong-Yue Wang
Jin-Jing Wang
author_facet Dan Yuan
Jing Wu
Dong-Yue Wang
Jin-Jing Wang
author_sort Dan Yuan
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Objective To investigate the clinicopathological characteristics and key diagnostic/therapeutic features of primary well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumors (WDNET) of the kidney. Methods Retrospective analysis of 4 primary renal WDNET patients, including clinical features, pathological findings (Macroscopic and microscopic), immunophenotype, treatment, and outcomes. Results All 4 patients were female (mean age: 55 ± 7.83 years), One patient occasionally experienced mild low back pain, one presented with “palpitations and fatigue,” and the remaining two were incidentally found to have renal masses during abdominal ultrasound or CT examination.Macroscopic findings: Mean tumor diameter 6.1 ± 2.2 cm(range: 3.5–8.8 cm), solid gray-white/yellow cut surfaces. Microscopic findings: Characteristic trabecular/rosette-like patterns, uniform cells with “salt-and-pepper” chromatin, and rare mitotic activity. Immunohistochemistry(IHC): Positive for Synaptophysin (Syn), Chromogranin A(CgA), CD56, and Cytokeratin (CK); negative for renal markers; low Ki67 index. Two patients underwent radical nephrectomy, and two had partial nephrectomy. During follow-up (1–77 months), one patient developed liver metastasis at 50 months post-operation (stabilized with PRRT), while others showed no recurrence. Conclusion Primary renal WDNET is clinically rare and lack specific manifestations, often misdiagnosed as renal cell carcinomas. Definitive diagnosis requires characteristic histomorphology combined with immunohistochemical markers. Currently, there is no unified grading system, and surgical resection remains the main treatment approach. However, prognostic factors and treatment responses remain unclear, necessitating further studies with larger case cohorts for comprehensive investigation.
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spelling doaj-art-4d1f1fd27dd3427787f34d8acb72c8b22025-08-20T03:42:10ZengBMCBMC Urology1471-24902025-07-012511810.1186/s12894-025-01855-yClinical and pathological analysis of primary well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumors in the kidney- a case seriesDan Yuan0Jing Wu1Dong-Yue Wang2Jin-Jing Wang3Department of Pathology, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical UniversityDepartment of Pathology, Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical UniversityDepartment of Pathology, Jilin municipal People’s HospitalDepartment of Pathology, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical UniversityAbstract Objective To investigate the clinicopathological characteristics and key diagnostic/therapeutic features of primary well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumors (WDNET) of the kidney. Methods Retrospective analysis of 4 primary renal WDNET patients, including clinical features, pathological findings (Macroscopic and microscopic), immunophenotype, treatment, and outcomes. Results All 4 patients were female (mean age: 55 ± 7.83 years), One patient occasionally experienced mild low back pain, one presented with “palpitations and fatigue,” and the remaining two were incidentally found to have renal masses during abdominal ultrasound or CT examination.Macroscopic findings: Mean tumor diameter 6.1 ± 2.2 cm(range: 3.5–8.8 cm), solid gray-white/yellow cut surfaces. Microscopic findings: Characteristic trabecular/rosette-like patterns, uniform cells with “salt-and-pepper” chromatin, and rare mitotic activity. Immunohistochemistry(IHC): Positive for Synaptophysin (Syn), Chromogranin A(CgA), CD56, and Cytokeratin (CK); negative for renal markers; low Ki67 index. Two patients underwent radical nephrectomy, and two had partial nephrectomy. During follow-up (1–77 months), one patient developed liver metastasis at 50 months post-operation (stabilized with PRRT), while others showed no recurrence. Conclusion Primary renal WDNET is clinically rare and lack specific manifestations, often misdiagnosed as renal cell carcinomas. Definitive diagnosis requires characteristic histomorphology combined with immunohistochemical markers. Currently, there is no unified grading system, and surgical resection remains the main treatment approach. However, prognostic factors and treatment responses remain unclear, necessitating further studies with larger case cohorts for comprehensive investigation.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12894-025-01855-yWell-differentiated neuroendocrine tumors(WDNET)KidneyTreatmentOutcomesCase series
spellingShingle Dan Yuan
Jing Wu
Dong-Yue Wang
Jin-Jing Wang
Clinical and pathological analysis of primary well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumors in the kidney- a case series
BMC Urology
Well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumors(WDNET)
Kidney
Treatment
Outcomes
Case series
title Clinical and pathological analysis of primary well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumors in the kidney- a case series
title_full Clinical and pathological analysis of primary well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumors in the kidney- a case series
title_fullStr Clinical and pathological analysis of primary well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumors in the kidney- a case series
title_full_unstemmed Clinical and pathological analysis of primary well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumors in the kidney- a case series
title_short Clinical and pathological analysis of primary well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumors in the kidney- a case series
title_sort clinical and pathological analysis of primary well differentiated neuroendocrine tumors in the kidney a case series
topic Well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumors(WDNET)
Kidney
Treatment
Outcomes
Case series
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12894-025-01855-y
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