Separation of renal cell tumors into different prognostic groups is an imperative function of the diagnostic pathologist. Recently, chromophobe renal carcinoma has been described as a tumor that is morphologically distinct from conventional "clear cell" carcinoma and that has a low metastatic potential. Identification is based on routine light microscopic features and is confirmed by special stains, immunohistochemistry, and electron microscopy. We present a variant of chromophobe renal carcinoma that did not show the typical cytomorphologic features on light microscopy after formaldehyde fixation. After fixation in Solufix (a commercial fixative), these features were recognized and the diagnosis was confirmed. The tumor also showed an unusual form of calcification and psammoma body formation not previously recognized in chromophobe tumors. Molecular biological assessment was inconclusive, but excluded a chromosome 3p deletion usually found in conventional renal carcinoma. The use of a different primary fixative may provide a cost-effective screening tool to detect variant renal tumors and may have important prognostic implications.