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Context.—: In prostate cancer, "tertiary" higher-grade patterns (TPs) have been associated with biochemical recurrence after radical prostatectomy., Objective.—: To determine variation regarding definition and application of TPs., Design.—: Online survey regarding TPs in a range of grading scenarios circulated to 105 experienced urologic pathologists., Results.—: Among 95 respondents, 40 of 95 (42%) defined TPs as "third most common pattern" and 55 (58%) as "minor pattern/less than 5% of tumor." In a tumor with pattern 3 and less than 5% pattern 4, of the 95 respondents, 35 (37%) assigned 3 + 3 = 6 with TP4, while 56 (59%) assigned 3 + 4 = 7. In a tumor with pattern 4 and less than 5% pattern 5, of the 95 respondents, 51 (54%) assigned 4 + 4 = 8 with TP5, while 43 (45%) assigned 4 + 5 = 9. Six scenarios were presented in which the order of most common patterns was 3, 4, and 5 (Group 1) or 4, 3, and 5 (Group 2) with varying percentages. In both groups, when pattern 5 was less than 5%, we found that 98% and 93% of respondents would assign 3 + 4 = 7 or 4 + 3 = 7 with TP5. In scenarios with 15% or 25% pattern 5, most respondents (70% and 80%, respectively) would include pattern 5 as the secondary grade, that is, 3 + 5 = 8 (Group 1) or 4 + 5 = 9 (Group 2). For 85 of 95 (89%), a TP would not impact Grade Group assignment., Conclusions.—: This survey highlights substantial variation in practice patterns regarding definition and application of "tertiary" grading in radical prostatectomy specimens. High consistency was observed in 3 + 4 = 7/4 + 3 = 7 scenarios with truly minor pattern 5. These findings should inform future studies assessing the standardization and predictive value of "tertiary" patterns.

Context: While biopsies are now increasingly being performed for the diagnosis of renal cortical neoplasms, the influence of the rendered pathological diagnoses on the clinical management is only rarely documented., Objectives: To report our experience with consecutively performed renal biopsies and the potential impact of the diagnosis on subsequent clinical management., Design: Material from needle biopsies performed consecutively at our institution between 2006 and 2011 was reviewed. The influence of the reported pathology results on the clinical management was determined from patient follow-up medical record review., Results: In total, 218 percutaneous biopsies for renal masses were performed during this period. Among them, 181 (83%) yielded neoplastic tissue, including 81 clear cell renal cell carcinomas, 29 low-grade oncocytic neoplasms, 7 papillary renal cell carcinomas, 5 clear cell papillary renal cell carcinomas, 5 angiomyolipomas, and 14 urothelial carcinomas. Fourteen additional cases (6%) contained lesional material from clinically known nonneoplastic processes, for a total diagnostic yield of 89%. Twenty-three (11%) were nonrepresentative of lesional tissue. In 10 of these, repeat biopsies or resections established the diagnosis of renal tumors. Biopsy diagnosis was confirmed in 29 of 30 cases (97%) on subsequent nephrectomy. Following the biopsy diagnosis, there were significant differences in the clinical management; overall, 79% of clear cell renal cell carcinomas received therapeutic interventions, and 17% were put on active surveillance. In contrast, 77% of the benign or low-grade lesions were put on active surveillance., Conclusions: Accurate and specific diagnosis can be rendered on renal core biopsy in most renal tumors, and the biopsy diagnosis can have a definitive role in their clinical management.

Context: Cystic lesions of the kidney may be accompanied by a range of neoplasms with distinct prognoses and future risks of developing additional tumors. In addition, some renal tumors, with or without accompanying renal cysts, may show a prominent cystic component. In the adult population, neoplasms occurring in a background of renal cystic diseases and cystic renal neoplasms often pose diagnostic challenges because of their many overlapping features., Objective: To review the clinicopathologic characteristics of common entities in the spectrum of neoplastic and potential preneoplastic cystic lesions encountered in adults, with an emphasis on renal cystic diseases associated with tumor development and on renal neoplasms with predominantly cystic morphology., Data Sources: The relevant English-language literature was reviewed, accompanied by the authors' experience at their practicing institution., Conclusions: The presence of multiple renal cysts, both acquired and syndromic, can be associated with a variety of renal tumors. The morphology of the cysts and associated tumor types can help predict the genetic or acquired basis of the lesions, and particularly in specimens with no accompanying pertinent clinical history, such potential associations should be suggested in surgical pathology reports.

Context: Only limited information exists on the pathologic aspects of thyroid carcinomas with bone metastases, most large studies having concentrated mainly on their clinical features., Objective: To study in detail the morphologic features of thyroid carcinomas with skeletal metastases., Design: Seventy-nine cases of thyroid carcinoma with bone metastases treated at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, between 1964 and 1998 were investigated, with emphasis on the pathology of the primary and/or metastatic tumors and comparison of the morphologic features of the tumors at both the sites, wherever possible. The tumors were also compared for various clinical parameters., Results: The cohort consisted of 22 papillary, 17 follicular, 16 insular, 10 anaplastic, 9 Hürthle cell, and 5 medullary carcinomas. Of these cases, 68% had poorly differentiated or undifferentiated features in the primary and/or metastatic tumors. The metastatic tumors were better differentiated than the primary in one third of the cases (6 of 18). Only one case showed a less differentiated metastasis. The overall 5- and 10-year survival probabilities after the bone metastases were 29% and 13%, respectively (Kaplan-Meier method). Although both the tumor type and differentiation seemed to affect survivals after bone metastasis (P =.007 and.012, respectively) (log-rank test), this was primarily due to the much worse prognosis in the cases of anaplastic and medullary carcinoma. Cases of Hürthle cell carcinoma showed the longest median survival. There was no significant difference in survival among patients up to or older than 45 years at the time of metastases (P =.31)., Conclusions: Most thyroid carcinomas with bone metastases are of papillary type, and most have poorly differentiated or undifferentiated features. The influence of the microscopic tumor type and tumor differentiation on survival after bone metastasis primarily appears to be due to the much worse prognosis among anaplastic and medullary carcinomas. Age at diagnosis of bone metastases does not influence survivals.

Extra-adrenal myelolipomas are rare; approximately 36 cases have been reported to date. We document a case of myelolipoma presenting as a localized mass in the renal sinus of a 66-year-old man. The chief clinical and radiologic differential diagnostic considerations in this case included a malignant renal tumor arising in the hilum. The patient was being investigated for recurrent urinary tract infections and vague abdominal pains. Histologically, the lesion showed features characteristic of a myelolipoma. There was also marked chronic inflammation in and around the mass. The uneventful follow-up of 62 months is in keeping with the benign nature of this lesion. This report expands the possibilities of the differential diagnoses of renal hilar neoplasms, particularly in view of the increased use of imaging techniques that are bound to detect many incidental lesions in this region.