Objectives: To evaluate the changing management of sporadic renal angiomyolipoma and renal angiomyolipoma associated with the tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) during the past 16 years.
Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the charts of 60 patients with angiomyolipoma seen at our institutions.
Results: The median age at presentation was 45 years (range 7-78). The presentation was pain in 30 patients and hematuria in 13; it was incidentally discovered in 17 patients. Of the 60 patients, 43 were females. TSC was present in 14 patients. The median tumor size was 4 cm (range 0.3-40, mean 6.5 +/- 1.1). Of the 60 patients, 31 were followed up expectantly. Surgery or intervention was needed for 29 patients to control hemorrhage or relieve pain or because of the suspicion of malignancy. Of these 29 patients, 12 underwent nephrectomy, 11 partial nephrectomy, and 6 embolization. The patients treated for hemorrhage had a median tumor diameter of 11 cm (range 2-21). Patients were followed up for a mean of 39.3 +/- 5.4 months. The lesions grew an average of 4.7 +/- 3.4 cm for TSC tumors and 0.6 +/- 0.2 cm for sporadic angiomyolipoma tumors. None of the patients developed renal impairment. Patients with TSC presented at a younger age, had larger and bilateral lesions, and were more symptomatic during follow-up. In the past 6 years, a significant trend was seen toward finding tumors in asymptomatic patients and toward the use of conservative or interventional (embolization) treatment.
Conclusions: Renal angiomyolipoma has a slow growth rate. The preservation of renal function was noted in all our patients. A recent shift was noted toward finding smaller tumors in asymptomatic patients and the use of conservative and interventional treatment.