Kidney cancer is the third urological cancer in men. It is nowadays discovered more and more by chance and can take various aspects. We report in this observation a case of tubulo-papillary carcinoma revealed by a renal abscess.A 46-year-old subject immunocompromised to HIV and on triple therapy was admitted for a severe infectious syndrome with a painful right lumbar mass. The abdominal CT scan found fluid collection from the right kidney in favor of a large abscess. A two-stage treatment were performed: drainage of the collection first, followed by total nephrectomy. Pathological examination of the part revealed tubulo-papillary carcinoma. The postoperative follow-up was simple and no complications were detected after two years.