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Malignant Angiomyolipoma of the Kidney Associated with Hypercalcaemia
Author(s) -
BYRNE D. J.,
STEWART P. A. HAMILTON,
LOWE J. W.
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
british journal of urology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.773
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1464-410X
pISSN - 0007-1331
DOI - 10.1111/j.1464-410x.1988.tb04277.x
Subject(s) - tuberous sclerosis , medicine , asymptomatic , angiomyolipoma , histogenesis , hamartoma , autopsy , kidney , abdomen , population , hypercalcaemia , pathology , radiology , immunohistochemistry , environmental health , calcium
Angiomyolipomas are tumours of uncertain histogenesis which occur only in the kidney. They may represent hamartomas or true benign tumours. Renal angiomyolipomas are uncommon, except in patients with tuberous sclerosis, where 40 to 80% have small bilateral tumours discovered incidentally at autopsy (Lynne et al. , 1979). About 200 cases in the general population had been described by 1976 (Busch et al. , 1976), but with newer techniques of investigation more asymptomatic tumours are being picked up incidentally. Histologically, the tumours from patients with tuberous sclerosis are indistinguishable from those found in patients without this condition. In patients with tuberous sclerosis the tumours tend to be small, multiple, bilateral and asymptomatic, while in other patients they are large and unilateral. The patients may present with recurrent renal symptoms or as an acute abdomen following haemorrhage. Despite microscopic features which might suggest aggressive behaviour, the tumours are usually benign and only endanger life from the effects of haemorrhage and renal failure (Farrow et al. , 1968). On rare occasions they may recur following surgical treatment and invade adjacent soft tissue (Kragel and Toker, 1985).