Angiomyolipoma of the kidney: A common benign renal tumor

AML Topic
Dr Pom Getbutton

Soarawee Weerasopone, Urologist

Samitivej Sriracha hospital, Thailand
We Wellness clinic, Chonburi Thailand

Royal Phnom Penh hospital, Cambodia

An incidentally finding kidney tumor which is very common at my urology office, that so-called Angiomyolipoma (AMLs) in medical term. This tumor mostly detected at health promotion clinic which is made the patients really concerned when their first met with me. And that is the reason that we are going to discuss today.

First of all, I need to confirm that Angiomyolipoma is a benign renal tumor. There were reports on 0.2% – 0.6% among general populations and most commonly found in middle-aged of female. Their etiologies divide into 2 categorizes

Angiomyolipoma of the kidney: A common benign renal tumor
AML most commonly found in middle-aged of female.
  1. Sporadic or happens by itself without any causes – 80% of cases.
  2. Generic-related diseases, tuberosclerosis (TSC) or pulmonary lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) – 20% of cases.

Since the most of Angiomyolipoma is asymptomatic, around 85% of cases are always incidentally finding from medical check up imaging. On the other hand, 15% of cases will symptomatically present for example.

Flank pain
Flank pain is the example of symptomatic AML.

Symptoms of symptomatic Angiomyolipoma

  • Spontaneous tumor hemorrhage
  • Palpable flank mass
  • Flank pain
  • Bloody urination
  • Urinary tract infection

Diagnosis – I can say that Angiomyolipoma can be diagnosed by pure imaging modality since they have a unique composition which is “Fat” so once the imaging can detect renal tumor with fat component, AMLs will be a diagnosis.

Investigation options – there’s a numbers of imaging modalities in current Angiomyolipoma practice and definitely they are all have pros and cons.

Ultrasound
Ultrasonography is the most common widely use and cheaper.
  1. Ultrasound – The most common used modality at health promotion clinic.
    • Pros – Cheap, no radiation exposure, widely accessibility
    • Cons – Operator dependent procedure, less accuracy in small AMLs
  2. Non-contrasted CT scan – Gold standard in AMLs diagnosis.
    • Pros – Definite investigation in AMLs, accurately diagnose AMLs
    • Cons – Radiation exposure, expensive
  3. MRI – Alternative modality with comparatively accurate with CT scan.
    • Pros – Accurately diagnose AMLs
    • Cons – taking long investigation time, expensive, contraindicated in metallic implanted patients
  4. Percutaneous biopsy – a rarely procedure in much selected case.
    • Pros – Tissue diagnosis
    • Cons – Risk of AMLs hemorrhage
CT scan
Anyway, CT scan with contrast is the definite investigation for AML.

Management options – There were a confirmed literatures stating that less than 4 cm of AMLs can be reassured with no needing to do interventions. In contrast, if more than 4 cm AMLs have been reported, the possibility rupture event will be. Here are all the treatment choices.

  1. Active surveillance – Regularly monitoring the progression of an existing tumors and developments of the new one.
  2. Embolization – Minimally invasive intervention is considered as first line treatment in AMLs which more than 4 cm. By the way, there is 42.8% chance of post procedure complication called “post embolization syndrome” – a self-limited condition, which is characterized by fever, flank pain, nausea and vomiting during the first 3 days after the procedure.
  3. Surgery – Can be considered if malignancy more likely to be.
  4. Thermal ablation – Promising intervention which use the effect of frost bite (Cryotherapy) or thermal burn (Radiofrequency ablation) are still little in clinical evidence.
Operation
Surgery will be considered if malignancy more likely to be.

The key message that urologist must let patients aware is that AMLs is a benign tumor which mostly need only an active surveillance program. Intervention is required in a rare case. See you in next topic!

You can feel to text me here.

Free online consultation
Disclaimer 1
Disclaimer 2
History PE Investigation
Notices
WeChat
Telegram 1
WhatsApp
Line 1

Topics on Urologic Oncology

Ureteral stricture: Causing and Treatment

Ureteral stricture is a condition that spin around my urology clinic. Most of patients have been sent from the other clinics by various causes of etiology, some are symptomatic, and some are not. This kind of condition need a carefully history taking as well as physical examination along with a proper imaging investigation before discussion…

Lycopene: How much do we need to take in prevention of prostate cancer?

Lycopene, the antioxidant which rich in tomato, carrot, watermelon, and papaya widely being mentioned in general audiences for the prevention of prostate cancer’s supplements. This topic will give you more detail related to the magic-like antioxidant. Q&A on Lycopene Q: What is Lycopene? A: It is a pigment that we can find in plants known…

Polycystic kidney disease: What should we do?

For me as a urologist who’s dealing with kidney problems in every single day. There is one genetic-related kidney condition which happen in young population and always terrifying the one whom experienced, so-called “Polycystic kidney disease”. It is a state of several cystic lesions all over the kidney organ. Today, I will clarify everything you…

Loading…

Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.

Leave a Reply

en_USEnglish
%d bloggers like this: