Anaplastic Sarcoma of the Kidney With Heterologous Ganglioneuroblastic Differentiation: Another DICER1-Associated Tumor

Pediatr Dev Pathol. 2022 Mar-Apr;25(2):186-191. doi: 10.1177/10935266211043861. Epub 2021 Sep 13.

Abstract

Anaplastic sarcoma of the kidney (ASK) is a rare renal tumor for which less than thirty cases have been described in the literature to date. Diagnosis of ASK is primarily based on histology, which features solid spindle cell neoplastic islands arranged in a fascicular pattern, prominent anaplastic nuclear morphology, brisk mitoses, and multiple multiloculated cysts lined by hobnail epithelium reminiscent of cystic nephroma. Chondroid or rhabdomyocytic differentiation is often present within the sarcoma. It has been recently suggested that this tumor entity belongs to the DICER1 syndrome tumors based on identification of DICER1 mutations. We report on a case of this rare tumor found in a twenty-month-old female. In addition to the typical histologic findings of ASK, this case also displayed heterologous neuroblastic-gangliocytic differentiation, which has not been previously described in the literature. TP53 and BRAF v600E had aberrant immunostaining. Chromosomal microarray and genomic sequencing revealed loss of chromosome 10 p15.3-p11.2 and both somatic and germline DICER1 mutations, consistent with recent research and further supporting the classification of this tumor within the DICER1 syndrome associated tumors.

Keywords: DICER; anaplastic sarcoma of the kidney; gangliocytic; kidney tumors; neuroblastic; sarcoma.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Cysts*
  • DEAD-box RNA Helicases / genetics
  • Female
  • Germ-Line Mutation
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Kidney / pathology
  • Kidney Neoplasms* / diagnosis
  • Kidney Neoplasms* / genetics
  • Kidney Neoplasms* / pathology
  • Male
  • Mutation
  • Neoplastic Syndromes, Hereditary*
  • Ribonuclease III / genetics
  • Sarcoma* / genetics

Substances

  • DICER1 protein, human
  • Ribonuclease III
  • DEAD-box RNA Helicases