Classification of Histologic Patterns of Pseudocapsular Invasion in Organ-Confined Renal Cell Carcinoma

A standardized histologic definition and classification of the patterns of renal tumor pseudocapsular invasion (RTPI) in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is not available. We classified RTPI into 2 main histologic patterns: expansive and infiltrative RTPI. Patients with organ-confined RCC and infiltrative RTPI had a greater risk of cancer-specific death and might require stricter postoperative surveillance strategies. INTRODUCTION: A standardized histologic definition and classification of patterns of renal tumor pseudocapsular invasion (RTPI) in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is not available. The aim of the present study was to propose a classification of RTPI patterns and assess their correlation with other pathologic features and prognosis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The renal tumor pseudocapsule was assessed by 2 expert genitourinary pathologists on the histologic slides of 190 specimens from radical nephrectomy performed for organ-confined (pT1-pT2) RCC. The histologic patterns of RTPI were classified and described. The association between the RTPI patterns and other pathologic features was assessed. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate the survival functions, and Cox regression models were used to assess the predictors of cancer-specific survival. RESULTS: RTPI was classified into 2 main histologic patterns (expansive and infiltrative). Expansive and infiltrative RTPI was observed in 39.5% and 51.6% of cases, respectively. A significant association between the RTPI pattern and Fuhrman grade (P = .006) and RCC histologic subtype (P = .034) was detected. Patients with infiltrative pseudocapsular invasion had significantly poorer 5- and 10-year cancer-specific survival rates than patients with expansive invasion or no invasion (93.6% vs. 98.9% and 84.9% vs. 93%, respectively; P = .039). The presence of infiltrative pseudocapsular invasion was a significant predictor of cancer-specific survival (hazard ratio 4.38, 95% confidence interval 1.04-20.27). CONCLUSION: An expansive and an infiltrative RTPI pattern can be described. In our study, patients with organ-confined RCC and an infiltrative RTPI pattern had a greater risk of cancer-specific death and might require stricter postoperative surveillance strategies.