Renal angiomyolipoma

• Published in: BJU international Vol. 110; no. S4; pp. 25 - 27
• Main Authors: Lienert, Andrew R., Nicol, David
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.12.2012
• Subjects: angiomyolipoma; Angiomyolipoma - diagnosis; Biopsy; Diagnosis, Differential; Humans; kidney neoplasm; Kidney Neoplasms - diagnosis; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; PEComa; Tomography, X-Ray Computed
• ISSN: 1464-4096; 1464-410X; 1464-410X
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1464-410X.2012.11618.x

What's known on the subject? and What does the study add? Renal angiomyolipomas (AMLs) were first described in 1900 by Grawitz when he published a description of a large renal tumour composed of fat, muscle and blood vessels. Over the subsequent 100 years a lot has been discovered about the AML of the kidney. Initially, it was thought to be a hamartoma, an abnormal proliferation of tissues that are normally present in the kidney. More recent studies and observations have led to these lesions being classed a form of neoplasm of the renal parenchyma. The present paper is a review of the presenting features of renal AMLs, as well as an overview of how they are diagnosed and some of the difficulties in diagnosis. It is aimed as a brief overview of the presenting features and diagnostics of renal AMLs. We hope it will be useful to refresh the knowledge of practicing urologists and as a study aid for training urologists. Renal angiomyolipomas (AMLs) are usually easy to diagnose with imaging alone. They have unique characteristics on ultrasonography, computerised tomography and magnetic resonance imaging that usually allow AMLs to be differentiated from other renal masses. If this is not possible on imaging criteria then biopsy can be performed and AMLs have unique immunohistochemical staining that allows them to be accurately differentiated from other renal tumours.