American Board of Pathology (ABPath) Practice Test 2025 - Free Pathology Exam Practice Questions and Study Guide

Renal cell carcinoma is commonly referred to as renal adenocarcinoma because it originates from the renal tubular epithelium and is characterized histologically by glandular patterns. The term "adenocarcinoma" implies that the tumor has features of glandular tissue and it captures the essence of the neoplasm's histological appearance. This type of cancer is the most frequent form of kidney cancer in adults and emphasizes its glandular nature, distinguishing it from other types of kidney tumors.

The other terms listed do not accurately describe renal cell carcinoma. Urothelial carcinoma, for instance, pertains to cancers arising from the urothelium, commonly found in the bladder rather than the kidney. Transitional cell carcinoma is another term that primarily refers to tumors in the urinary bladder or parts of the renal pelvis and does not describe the renal cell origin. Squamous cell carcinoma is a type of cancer that arises from squamous epithelial cells and is not related to the renal tubular origin seen in renal cell carcinoma.

Thus, renal adenocarcinoma is the correct nomenclature as it directly relates to the tumor's epithelial origin and histological characteristics.