Giant renal leiomyoma: a case report and brief review of the literature

We report on a very large renal leiomyoma in a man presentingwith a 1-year history of lower back and flank pain and a rapidlygrowing abdominal mass. Since a cystic renal cell carcinomacould not be ruled out, a postembolization right radical nephrectomywas performed. Diagnosis was confirmed by pathologic andhistologic analysis. Renal leiomyomas are very rare benign tumoursthat are nearly indistinguishable from leiomyosarcoma or renalcell carcinoma preoperatively. This case represents the secondlargest such entity reported and demonstrates the limited abilityof accurate diagnostic determination preoperatively, with pathologicexamination and immune-histochemical staining postnephrectomyrepresenting the only definitive means of diagnosis. A briefreview of the literature and an outline of typical clinical and pathologicfeatures of renal leiomyomas are also presented.