Renal angiomyolipoma

Abstract

What ' s known on the subject? and What does the study add? Renal angiomyolipomas (AMLs) were fi rst 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 diffi culties 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. Abstract• 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.

Selective arterial embolization of symptomatic and asymptomatic renal angiomyolipomas: a retrospective study of safety, outcomes and tumor size reduction

“…With improvement of cross sectional imaging and even in cases of low-fat tumors, AMLs can now be confidently diagnosed with an MRI specificity of up to 99% (52,53 (25)(26)(27)36). Literature comparing nephrectomy and NSS with SAE in the management of AMLs is limited (3,8,55,56) with medical and economic analyses favoring embolization in symptomatic renal AMLs or AMLs at risk of complications.…”

Transarterial Embolization of Angiomyolipoma: A Systematic Review

“…10 Even in cases of small or fat-poor angiomyolipomata, magnetic resonance imaging demonstrates a specificity of 99%. 11 Many centers now favor transarterial embolization of angiomyolipoma, and reserve surgery for patients with refractory symptoms, complex renal artery anatomy, failure of embolization, and rare cases of diagnostic uncertainty.…”

Tuberous sclerosis complex: the past and the future

“…We would like to focus on the recommendations for the surveillance and management of renal lesions [6]. Although ultrasound and computed tomography (CT) are adequate for the detection of the adipose component of angiomyolipomas, fat-poor lesions can be missed [78,79]. It has been suggested that MRI is superior to ultrasound and CT, and represents the preferred evaluation modality for angiomyolipomas (especially fat-poor lesions) [15,80,81] in newly diagnosed patients, and for 1-to 3-yearly follow-up throughout their lifetime [5,6].…”