Bilateral renal angiomyolipomas in tuberous sclerosis

Abstract

Background

Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is a rare genetic disorder characterized by benign hamartomas in multiple organs of the body. Renal angiomyolipomas (AML) are commonly associated with TSC. They are mostly asymptomatic. But large and rapidly growing AMLs with the presence of an aneurysm cause symptoms and pose a life-threatening risk for hemorrhage.

Case presentation

Our patient is a 25-year-old female who presented to us as an undiagnosed case of tuberous sclerosis having a large abdominal mass. She fulfilled the clinical criteria required for the diagnosis of TSC. The CT scan revealed an 18 × 13 × 33 cm fat-containing lesion in the right kidney with an adjacent aneurysm measuring around 16 cm in diameter. Due to the large size of the AML and associated aneurysm, surgical exploration was mandated. On the contralateral kidney, multiple contrast-enhancing soft-tissue densities were present that appeared suspicious on radiology. So a percutaneous biopsy of those lesions was done. Fortunately, it had the same histopathology as an Angiomyolipoma. Nephrectomy of the right-sided kidney with AML has been done. The left-sided lesions that are less than 2 cm and asymptomatic are kept on close surveillance. Any change in size will prompt therapy with mTOR inhibitors.

Conclusion

When dealing with bilateral renal AML, it is important to adopt a conservative approach. When intervention is indicated, the least invasive strategy should be sought and enacted. Radical surgery should be the last resort.

1 Background

Tuberous sclerosis (TS), also known as Bourneville-Pringle disease, is a rare genetic disease with an autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance [1]. The disease manifest as benign tumors in various organs like the retina, lungs, heart, brain, skin, and kidney. The kidney is affected in approximately 80% of these patients with 75% of the lesions being angiomyolipomas. Despite having a benign nature, these tumors are the most common cause of TSC-related death because of spontaneous hemorrhage leading to hypovolemic shock and renal failure requiring long-term dialysis or transplant. We report a case of bilateral renal angiomyolipomas largest being 18 cm with a bleeding aneurysm.

2 Case presentation

A 25-year-old female, married, with no prior comorbidities, presented with the complaint of an abdominal mass for the past eight months. Initially, it was noticed as a small bulge in the right flank and was associated with occasional discomfort. It progressively increased in its size, involving the entire right-sided abdomen with extension across the midline, associated with episodes of moderate-intensity pain requiring oral analgesics.

The patient had multiple small lesions on her face since adolescence. She denied any significant medical or surgical history in the past. There was not any history of altered bowel habits or any other GI-related symptoms. She did not have any urinary complaints or a history of hematuria. She did not have any history of seizures or developmental delays. She denied any history of chest pains, palpitations, or syncopal attacks. Did not have any chronic cough or history of wheezing. There isn’t any known genetic disease in her family.

On general physical examination, she was a young female with average height and build and a grossly visible abdominal protuberance. Vital signs were within the satisfactory limit. She was clinically pale with multiple well-defined, brown sessile nodular growths on her nose and cheeks in a characteristic “butterfly pattern” (Fig. 1). She had a well-defined hypopigmented patch on the lower back showing an orange peel appearance indicative of a shagreen patch (Fig. 2). On abdominal examination, she had a large globular mass extending from the right flank crossing the midline up to the left lumbar region with a lower limit palpable up to the iliac fossas.

Fig. 1

Fascial angiofibromas

Fig. 2

‘Orange peel’ appearance of a shagreen patch

It was firm, with a smooth surface, ballotable, non-tender, and non-pulsatile.

On initial laboratory workup, she was found to be severely anemic with a hemoglobin of 5.1 mg/dl. Ultrasound showed a large heterogeneous mass lesion measuring 11.6 × 12.9 × 13.6 cm in mid-abdomen extending into the lower abdomen. The right kidney could not be visualized (Figs. 3, 4).

Fig. 3

Ultrasound images of a heterogeneous mass lesion measuring 11.6 × 12.9 × 13.6 cm in mid abdomen extending into lower abdomen

Fig. 4

Ultrasound images of a heterogeneous mass lesion measuring 11.6 × 12.9 × 13.6 cm in mid abdomen extending into lower abdomen

A contrast-enhanced CT scan of abdomen and pelvis was done for further characterization of the renal masses. A huge heterogeneous fat-containing lesion was seen arising from the interpolar region of the right kidney with an adjacent large hypodense lesion with internal high density and a well-defined contrast filling on its medial aspect, closely abutting the right renal lesion. These findings were suggestive of a huge right-sided renal angiomyolipoma with a bleeding pseudoaneurysm. Few enhancing soft tissue densities were found in the angiomyolipoma of the left kidney larges 2.2 × 2.3 cm raising the suspicion of renal cell carcinoma (Figs. 5, 6).

Fig. 5

Huge right-sided renal angiomyolipoma with a bleeding pseudoanurysm. Few hyperdense enhancing soft tissue densities were noted in the angiomyolipoma of the left kidney

Fig. 6

Huge right-sided renal angiomyolipoma with a bleeding pseudoanurysm. Few hyperdense enhancing soft tissue densities were noted in the angiomyolipoma of the left kidney

According to the 2012 International tuberous sclerosis complex consensus conference, TCS can be diagnosed based on “genetic diagnostic criteria” or “clinical diagnostic criteria” [2]. The genetic diagnosis requires the identification of a TSC1 or a TSC2 pathogenic mutation in DNA from normal tissue. The clinical diagnostic criteria include 11 major and six minor features. For a definite diagnosis two major features or one major feature with > 2 minor features are required. Our patient had four major features, i.e., hypomelanotic macules, angiofibromas, shagreen patch, and angiomyolipomas. Hence, the definitive diagnosis of TCS was made.

The multiple enhancing lesions of the left kidney, although < 4 cm, had confusing features on CT and mandated a biopsy. An ultrasound-guided biopsy of the left renal lesion was done. Fortunately, the histopathology confirmed AML. A nephrectomy was planned for the right-sided renal mass. A midline laparotomy incision was given, extending from xiphisternum to pubic symphysis.

A Huge mass, measuring 26 × 23 × 15 cm involving the middle and lower pole of the right kidney with a large cystic component extending across the midline and causing the medial shift of ascending colon, was found. Its large size and more than two-thirds involvement of the kidney mandated complete nephrectomy. The tumor was highly vascular with multiple dilated peri-tumoral vessels requiring meticulous mobilization and ligation (Figs. 7, 8).

Fig. 7

Right-sided kidney with AML measuring 26 × 23 × 15 cm. Renal tissue could not be separately visualized

Fig. 8

Right-sided kidney with AML measuring 26 × 23 × 15 cm. Renal tissue could not be separately visualized

The specimen was sent for histopathological examination. Microscopic examination revealed multiple thick-walled blood vessels surrounded by radial arrays of smooth muscle fibers and admixed among mature adipocytes (Fig. 9).

Fig. 9

Thick-walled blood vessels (solid red arrow) surrounding smooth muscle fibers (empty black arrow) and interposed adipocytes (solid black arrow)

The neoplastic cells were positive for HMB45, Melan-A, and Alpha smooth muscle actin immunohistochemical markers. The tumor was well-circumscribed with no infiltration in the adjacent renal parenchyma (Fig. 10). Features were consistent with renal angiomyolipoma.

Fig. 10

AML (red arrow), normal renal parenchyma with glomerulus (black arrow), well circumscribed margin between AML and normal renal tissue (white arrow)

We are following our patient with an ultrasound every six months. So far, she is asymptomatic, and no increase in the size of the lesions in her left solitary kidney is noted.

3 Discussion

Tuberous sclerosis (TS) is a rare genetic disease with an autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance and arises from the inactivation of either TSC1 (chromosome locus 9q34.3) or TSC2 (16p13.3) genes [2]. These genes are responsible for the formation of a protein "hamartin" (TSC1) and "tuberin" (TSC2), which together form a tumor suppressor complex and limit abnormal cell proliferation. The disease manifest as benign tumors in various organs, including the retina, lungs, heart, brain, skin, and kidney [3]. Neuropsychiatric disorders are also associated with TSC [4, 5]. Patients having TSC can develop different epithelial renal lesions, including polycystic kidney disease (PKD), oncocytomas, and renal cell carcinomas (RCC), but angiomyolipomas remain the most common. These are mostly asymptomatic and discovered incidentally, but lesions more than 4 cm may cause symptoms (e.g., hemorrhage, palpable mass, or symptoms related to mass effect) hence requiring treatment [6, 7].

CT scan remains the most accurate modality for the characterization and diagnosis of angiomyolipoma. They are classified as “classical” and “atypical” based on their fat component. Although RAML has a characteristic feature of fat attenuation on CT scan, the presence of intratumoral calcifications, intratumoral cysts, or a solitary fat-poor AML increases the suspicion of malignancy and requires a biopsy [8, 9].

Treatments preserving renal function should be considered for every patient with AML given its benign nature. Symptomatic lesions or tumors greater than 4 cm in diameter are treated with surgical resection or selective renal artery embolization [7].

In the last few decades, there has been a tremendous amount of work done in recognizing the role of mTOR inhibitors in the management of renal AML. Inhibitors of the mTOR pathway such as rapamycin, also known as sirolimus, with their immunosuppressive and anti-proliferative actions, have shown a therapeutic benefit. The mutation of the TSC genes leads to the unregulated activity of mTORC1 with subsequent unabated growth of hamartomas. These mTOR inhibitors can block this pathway directly at the level of mTORC1 resulting in up to 50% reduced angiomyolipoma volume with an acceptable safety profile [10, 11].

Renal AML associated with TCS grows at an estimated rate of 1.25 cm yearly. Therefore, a lifetime follow-up is needed [12]. To date, there are no strict criteria of how frequently these should be imaged and so the current practice is an individualized surveillance protocol based on the clinical background, i.e., the size of the lesion and whether the patient has TSC.

4 Conclusion

Our experience concludes that bilateral angiomyolipomas with such an atypical presentation should be investigated thoroughly and whenever in doubt, a biopsy should be done before making any management decisions. The aim should be at preserving renal function with a least invasive approach.