Renal cortical tumors. Cytogenetic characterization.

The authors examined three cortical tumors (adenomas) of the kidney and found a consistent chromosome pattern. A combination of chromosome abnormalities (+7, +7, +17, -Y) was shared by these tumors. In contrast, none of them showed alterations of chromosome 3p and 5q, the most common changes in renal cell carcinomas. The chromosome abnormalities in these patients may define a subgroup of renal tumors, so-called adenomas, that cannot be distinguished easily from adenocarcinomas in histopathologic examination.