Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Fine Needle Aspiration of Small Renal Masses in Selected Patients: Case Reports Volume 2 - Issue 5

De Fabritiis Marco¹*, Gurioli Christian², Mosconi Giovanni¹, Dubini Alessandra⁴, Poletti Venerino^2,3 and Ravaglia Claudia²

• ¹Department of Nephrology and Dialysis, Morgagni Hospital, Italy
• ²Department Diseases of the Thorax, Morgagni Hospital, Italy
• ³Department of Respiratory Diseases & Allergy, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark
• ⁴Department of Pathology, Morgagni Hospital, Italy

Received: June 03, 2020;   Published: July 10, 2020

Corresponding author: De Fabritiis Marco, Department of Nephrology and Dialysis, Morgagni Hospital, Forlì, Italy

DOI: 10.32474/JUNS.2020.02.000149

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Abstract

The incidental detection of small renal tumors is increasing. Over 75% of such renal tumors, smaller than 4 cm are malignant. Therefore the use of renal biopsy increased during the last decades. It is well tolerated and has a high diagnostic yield. Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration represents a new option for renal tissue sampling, especially in those patients who simultaneously present suspected neoplastic lesions both in the kidney and in other anatomical districts such as lungs. We present two cases with concomitant intrathoracic and left kidney lesion, in which sampling of renal nodule by EUS-FNA changed the therapeutic management.

Keywords: Renal mass biopsy; EUS-FNA; Mediastinal adenopathy; Lung cancer

Background

More than 13,000 patients are diagnosed with kidney cancer each year in Italy and more than 3.000 succumb to this disease [1]. Yet, approximately 20% of all surgically resected renal tumors are benign [2]. Indeed, renal cancer is a heterogeneous disease with biological behavior ranging from indolent to an aggressive disease. The incidental detection of small renal tumors is rising because of the increased use of imaging techniques such as computed tomography (CT) and/or ultrasonography performed for unrelated indications [3]. Over 75% of these renal tumors, which are smaller than 4 cm [small renal masses (SRM)] are malignant. In most of cases, no specific radiographic features may predict the biological behavior or even histopathology [4]. The use of renal mass biopsy (RMB) has increased over the last decade [5]. This procedure is well tolerated and has a high diagnostic yield and specificity.
Traditionally, tissue diagnosis of renal tumors can be performed under image guidance (ultrasound, computerized tomography, or magnetic resonance imaging) with a percutaneous approach. In general, two different procedures for tissue sampling of renal masses for histopathological assessment are available: fineneedle aspiration (FNA) or core biopsy (CB)[6]. FNA is performed with a thin (23-25 gauge) needle which is inserted into the mass to remove cells without preserving the histological architecture of tissue cells. CB is needle core biopsy that samples a portion of the abnormal tissue. Compared to FNA, core needle biopsies have a higher diagnostic rate and allow a more accurate histological examination which could have a prognostic value for example providing the distinction between invasive and in-situ cancer [7]. In recent years a third option for renal tissue sampling has been described, represented by Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) [8,9]. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) is a combination of endoscopy and ultrasonography. EUS can be used to visualize and sample mass lesions of lung, mediastinum, pancreas, gastrointestinal tract, left adrenal gland and retroperitoneum. We present two cases with concomitant intrathoracic and left kidney lesion, in which sampling of renal nodule by EUS-FNA changed the therapeutic management. In one of them EUS-FNA was the unique invasive procedure performed allowing the sampling of both mediastinal and renal lesions.

Ase Reports

A 42 year old female patient with history of Basedow’s disease treated with methimazole was submitted to right lower lobectomy, one year before, for peripheral pulmonary carcinoid (T1bN1M0 staging), associated to hypercortisolism. After surgery, the ACTH and cortisol values normalized only for a few months. The patient returned to our observation after the execution of positron emission tomography (PET) scan that revealed two hypermetabolic areas (subcarinal lymph node, left pulmonary hilar lymph node); subsequent abdominal and chest computed tomography (CT) scan was performed that showed mediastinal lymphadenopathies of 2cm of smaller diameter and hypodense oval nodule of 15mm of diameter, in the lower polar area of the left kidney (Figure 1). The patient was treated for 3 months with octreotide for the recurrence of the cushing-like symptoms and then was referred for a transesophageal ultrasound (US) that revealed hypoechoic subcarinal lymphadenopathy and a small hypoechoic area within the parenchyma of the left kidney. EUS-FNA of both lesions was performed. Histological and immunohistochemical features were diagnostic of mediastinal metastasis of carcinoid (Figure 2) and clear cell renal carcinoma (Figure 3) respectively.

A 74 year old male patient with history of smoking (80 packs of cigarettes per year with a 4-year history of urothelial carcinoma treated with mitomycin for 1 year, was admitted to our Hospital for recurrent haemoptysis. He underwent total body CT that revealed left perihilar pulmonary necrotic lesion, two brain lesions and another lesion in middle-lower zone of the left kidney (Figure 4). The patient was submitted to transesophageal ultrasound that allowed FNA of the nodule of the left kidney. No other lesions were founded at echoendoscopic examination. Bronchoscopy, performed at the same time of EUS, revealed compressive stenosis of the apicodorsal branch of the left upper lobar bronchus. Endobronchial ultrasound at that level showed a large hypoechoic mass on which trasbronchial lung biopsies were carried out. Cytological and histological examination were diagnostic of renal oncocytoma (Figure 5) and pulmonary adenocarcinoma (Figure 6) respectively.

Discussion

Renal tumors are diagnosed through mini-invasive approaches with an increasing frequency. Management of these lesions depends on several factors including biological profile, the presence or absence of specific symptoms and patient comorbidities [10,11]. Tissue sampling of these lesions is traditionally performed by using percutaneous ultrasonographic or CT guidance [12]. According to the European Association of Urology guidelines percutaneous RMB is recommended for active surveillance in selected patients with SRM, before ablative treatments and for patients suffering from renal metastatic disease before starting systemic treatment. For large renal masses scheduled for nephrectomy, RMB is not recommended. The American Urological Association guidelines consider a biopsy when a renal mass is suspected to be metastatic, inflammatory, hematologic, or infectious. RMB appears a safe and feasible technique and should be considered when results would affect patient management [8]. RMB is characterized by high sensitivity and specificity for identifications of malignant tissue (97.5-99.7 and 96.2-99.1%, respectively) [13] with accuracy of 97.1% for malignancy identification [14]. Hematoma is the most common adverse event, observed in up to 91% of cases. Tumor seeding after RMB has a reported rate of less than 0.01% [15].

Because percutaneous biopsy of renal masses is an established procedure that is performed with the patient receiving only local anesthesia and without endoscopy, it seems unlikely that renal biopsy will soon become a routine single indication for EUS. EUS might be attractive to evaluate and possibly allow biopsies in different anatomical sites during a single procedure. In these case reports EUS-FNA allowed to differentiate two different tumors by a single procedure, changing prognosis and therapeutical strategy. In the first case it was necessary to combine a surgical approach for clear cell renal carcinoma with chemotherapy for carcinoid; in the second case a conservative approach was possible for oncocytoma combined with chemotherapy for pulmonary adenocarcinoma. EUS approach is however easily feasible only when the left kidney is involved, because it may visualized when the echoendoscope is located inside the stomach.

Conclusion

The clinical applications of EUS-FNA continue to expand and can be useful in the diagnosis of SRM. EUS allows examination and biopsy of masses or lesions within the kidney, thus facilitating the diagnosis of early RCC. This technique should be considered when concomitant lesions are founded in different anatomical sites and whose characterization would affect patient management, changing prognosis and therapeutical strategy.

Author Contribution

Manuscript preparation, data collection and analysis: De Fabritiis M., Gurioli C.; lab assay and data collection: Dubini A.; Ravaglia C.; main conceptualization and supervision: De Fabritiis M, Poletti V.

Funding

These case reports received no grant from any fundingn agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

Conflicts of Interest

The Autors declare no conflit of interest.

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