Prognostic Value of Pathological Parameters in Renal Cell Carcinoma

Shin, Tong Keun; Park, Hae Young; Park, Moon Hyang

Abstract

We conducted a retrospective study of 41 cases of clinically localized renal cell carcinoma (RCC) treated with radical nephrectomy by our department between January 1987 and December 1993. The prognostic pathological parameters considered were tumor extension (pT stage), nuclear grading, histological grading, cell type, histologic growth pattern and tumor size. In the univariate analysis by log-rank test, three parameters showed prognostic significance, including pT stage, nuclear grading and tumor size. However, in the multivariate analysis using Cox's regressional hazard model, only two parameters including pT stage (p<0.001), nuclear grade (p<0.05) were found to have significantly independent prognostic value. But, nuclear grade considered in a given stage provided no significant influence (p>0.05). We think that nuclear grading cannot predict the outcome of patients at the same surgical stage. These results suggest that pathological stage of RCC may be the most important prognostic factor and the nuclear grade of tumor may provide additional important prognostic information.