Renal angiomyolipoma

What is Renal Angiomyolipoma?

Renal angiomyolipoma (AML) is a benign tumor that affects the kidneys. It consists of blood vessels, smooth muscle, and fat cells. It typically presents as a single, well-circumscribed mass, but may be multiple in some cases. Most AMLs are small and asymptomatic, but they can enlarger over time and cause symptoms such as abdominal pain or hematuria (blood in the urine). Treatment is usually surgical removal of the tumor.

Signs and Symptoms

The most common symptom of angiomyolipoma is abdominal pain. Other signs and symptoms include:

• Unilateral abdominal mass
• Fluctuating pain that can increase with eating, exertion, and movement of the abdomen
• Nausea and vomiting
• Hematuria (blood in the urine)

Diagnosis

The diagnosis of angiomyolipoma is usually made with imaging studies such as computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). These studies can reveal the size and location of the tumor and can also help to differentiate it from other types of masses.

Treatment

The main treatment for angiomyolipoma is surgical removal of the tumor. In some cases, the tumor can be monitored closely with imaging studies for signs of growth or complications. When the tumor is larger than 4 cm in size, prophylactic embolization (cutting off the blood supply to the tumor) is also recommended.

Conclusion

Renal angiomyolipoma is a benign tumor of the kidney. It can cause abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and hematuria. Diagnosis is usually made with imaging studies such as CT or MRI. The main treatment for this condition is surgical removal of the tumor, with or without prophylactic embolization.