The shrinkage effect of formalin on renal cell carcinoma: Does it change the stages.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the shrinkage effect of formalin on renal cell carcinoma.

METHODS

The retrospective study was conducted from October to November 2020 at Tekirdağ Namık Kemal University, Turkey, and comprised all radical and partial nephrectomy cases performed by a single surgeon in a single clinic between January 2014 and August 2020. Pre-operative images and post-operative pathology were reviewed by the same clinician. Pre-operative longest tumour diameter of radiological images and pathological specimens measured after formalin fixation shrinkage were compared, and the effect of the difference between the two measurements on the circumference of the tumour was examined. The formalin-related shrinkage rates of renal tumours according to the tumour size and the tumour types were also analysed. Data was analysed using SPSS 20.

RESULTS

Of the 101 cases, 58(57.4%) were of radical and 43(42.6%) of partial nephrectomy. Also, there were 77(76.2%) renal cell carcinoma cases, 22(21.8%) benign renal tumours and 2(1.9%) had other malignant tumours. There were 59(58.4%) males and 42(41.6%) females with an overall mean age of 58.1±12,2 years (range: 30-82 years). The mean radiological size of the renal tumours was 55.3±30.4 mm and it was 52.9±31.6 mm at pathological examination (p>0.05).

CONCLUSION

Formalin fixation of tissues post-surgery caused a difference between the radiological and pathological dimensions. Though the difference was no significant, under-staging due to the shrinkage post-surgery should be considered.