Rupture of a renal angiomyolipoma (hamartoma)

Abstract

SummaryA 54-year-old woman with spontaneous rupture of angiomyolipoma is presented. The literature on the 2 types of angiomyolipoma, without and with association of tuberose sclerosis, their rarity and the difficulties in their diagnoses, is reviewed.

Spontaneous Rupture of Renal Angiomyolipoma

“…The mechanism of spontaneous rupture in RAML seems to be an invasion of the renal vein by the tumor [9,10], as most probably happened in the above-described cases.…”

“…The most common presenting symptoms are: flank pain (> 50%), flank mass (30%), macroscopic hematuria (30%) and fever (15%) [6,7], In rare cases, symptoms of cystitis, hypertension or hypovolemic shock due to spontaneous rupture are the presenting symptoms [6][7][8][9],…”

Spontaneous Rupture of Renal Tumours Presenting as Surgical Emergency

“…Renal carcinoma is generally regarded as the tumour most likely to present in this manner (Mukamel et al, 1979;Chang et al, 1988;Thanos et al, 1989). The mechanism of spontaneous rupture in renal angiomyolipoma seems to be invasion of the renal vein by the tumour (Stavarovsky et al, 1979). While there have been many recent reports on spontaneous rupture of renal angiomyolipoma, there is little indication of its frequency relative to other renal tumours as the cause of spontaneous rupture.…”