[Multilocular renal cyst: clinico-pathological considerations apropos of a case and review of the literature].

A case of multilocular renal cyst (MRC) is reported in a hypertensive patient in whom the IVP had disclosed a left renal mass. The ultrasound and CT workup revealed a well-defined, solid renal mass that was angiographically hypovascular. Cytologic examination of the specimen obtained by fine needle aspiration biopsy yielded no conclusive data. A left radical nephrectomy was performed. The histologic diagnosis was that of multilocular renal cyst. At 42 months the patient remains hypertensive with no evidence of tumor recurrence. We discuss the diagnostic criteria of MRC and the difficulty in making the differential diagnosis from renal carcinoma, and describe the histologic features of MRC that permit us to distinguish this disease entity from other renal tumors or dysplastic disease with different biologic significance.