Bilateral renal angiomyolipoma

Abstract

Bilateral renal angiomyolipoma is a rare entity, usually associated with tuberous sclerosis. Five cases of bilateral renal angiomyolipoma, all females, with a mean age of 34.6 years, are reported. All patients had symptoms attributable to lesions only on one side, with flank pain and mass the commonest symptoms encountered. Only one case had clinical evidence of stigmata of tuberous sclerosis. The mean size of the lesions on the symptomatic side was 17 cm, while that on the asymptomatic side was 2 cm. Three patients were diagnosed correctly as having angiomyolipomas preoperatively with the use of ultrasonography and computed tomography (CT); two of these were treated with total nephrectomy and the third with partial nephrectomy. The other two cases were seen before the availability of CT and were only diagnosed intraoperatively. Both patients were treated with total nephrectomy. The lesions on the asymptomatic side were kept on close surveillance. Two patients developed an increase in the size of the lesions in the contralateral kidney 1 year and 3 1/2 years after the first surgery. Both patients were treated with partial nephrectomy. All patients are alive at 3-14 years (mean 6.6 years) after operation.