Open AccessLoss of intratumoral macroscopic fat in renal angiomyolipoma following chemoradiation therapy for pancreatic cancer
Author(s) -
Frank H. Miller,
Jeet Minocha,
Sudharshan Parthasarathy,
Sharon Z. Adam,
Carolina Parada,
Vahid Yaghmai
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
bjr case reports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2055-7159
DOI - 10.1259/bjrcr.20150439
Subject(s) - medicine , angiomyolipoma , renal cell carcinoma , adipose tissue , pancreatic cancer , adenocarcinoma , pathology , cachexia , kidney , radiology , cancer
Angiomyolipoma (AML) is the most common benign mesenchymal tumour of the kidney. Classically, AML can readily be diagnosed by identifying the negatively attenuating intratumoral macroscopic fat component on non-enhanced CT scans. However, intratumoral macroscopic fat may not be visible on CT scans, mimicking renal cell carcinoma. We report a case of renal AML with CT scan evidence of macroscopic intratumoral fat that was not readily visible on subsequent CT or MRI, presumably owing to a generalized rapid loss of adipose tissue due to cachexia in a patient with pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Radiologists should be aware that AML may lose its intratumoral fat on follow-up imaging and may simulate renal cell carcinoma.