Juxtaglomerular Cell Tumor : Case History

Juxtaglomerular Cell Tumor - Case History: The patient was a 15 y/o previously healthy female who was found to have elevated blood pressure during a routine physical examination for sports. She also gave a brief history of headaches. Abdominal CT scan showed a 3.0 cm cortical mass in the left kidney. Laboratory evaluation showed increased plasma renin activity, hypokalemia, and normal urinary catecholamines. Selective renal vein renin measurements showed lateralization to the left kidney and a diagnosis of juxtaglomerular cell tumor was rendered preoperatively. The patient underwent partial nephrectomy which cured her hypertension. This image from the case shows small clusters and aggregates of tumor cells scattered in a background of myxoid stroma. Some of the tumor cells seem to be arranged concentrically around arterioles.