Hereditary syndromes and RCC: what radiologists need to know
- 24 November 2025
- journal article
- review article
- Published by Springer Nature in Abdominal Radiology
- Vol. 51 (6) , 3038-3053
Abstract
Hereditary renal cell carcinoma (RCC) accounts for approximately 5–8% of all renal cancers. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the seven hereditary RCC syndromes recognized by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network: Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC), Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL), Hereditary Leiomyomatosis and Renal Cell Cancer (HLRCC), Hereditary Papillary Renal Carcinoma (HPRC), Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome (BHDS), Succinate dehydrogenase (SDH)-deficient RCC/Hereditary Paraganglioma/Pheochromocytoma (PGL/PCC) syndrome, and BAP1 tumor predisposition syndrome (BAP1-TPDS). For each syndrome, the underlying inheritance, epidemiology, and clinicopathologic features of their associated RCCs are detailed. Furthermore, radiographic challenges faced in the diagnosis of RCC in some of these syndromes are discussed, including differentiating RCC from the more common lipid-poor AML in TSC, distinguishing papillary RCC from hemorrhagic cysts in HPRC, and discerning chromophobe RCC from oncocytomas in BHDS. Radiologists are integral to the multidisciplinary management of hereditary RCC, as they are often the first to identify clinicopathologic features suggestive of an underlying genetic syndrome. Recognizing these patterns is crucial for prompting timely genetic evaluation, guiding decisions for nephron-sparing interventions, and establishing appropriate surveillance for patients and their at-risk family members. Advances in radiogenomics and artificial intelligence hold promise for further refining non-invasive diagnosis and personalizing patient care.Keywords
This publication has 77 references indexed in Scilit:
- Hereditary renal mass syndromes: a pictorial reviewAbdominal Radiology, 2024
- Biphasic papillary (biphasic squamoid alveolar) renal cell carcinoma: a clinicopathologic and molecular study of 17 renal cell carcinomas including 10 papillary adenomasVirchows Archiv, 2024
- Guidelines for surveillance of patients with von Hippel‐Lindau disease: Consensus statement of the International VHL Surveillance Guidelines Consortium and VHL AllianceCancer, 2023
- Role of ultra-high b-value DWI in the imaging of hereditary leiomyomatosis and renal cell carcinoma (HLRCC)Abdominal Radiology, 2022
- Fumarate hydratase variant prevalence and manifestations among individuals receiving germline testingCancer, 2021
- Genotypic and Phenotypic Features of BAP1 Cancer SyndromeJAMA Dermatology, 2017
- Radiogenomics of clear cell renal cell carcinoma: preliminary findings of The Cancer Genome Atlas–Renal Cell Carcinoma (TCGA–RCC) Imaging Research GroupAbdominal Radiology, 2015
- Hereditary leiomyomatosis and renal cell cancer (HLRCC): renal cancer risk, surveillance and treatmentFamilial Cancer, 2014
- Birth incidence and prevalence of tumor‐prone syndromes: Estimates from a UK family genetic register serviceAmerican Journal of Medical Genetics Part A, 2010
- Solid renal tumor severity in von Hippel Lindau disease is related to germline deletion length and locationHuman Mutation, 2003