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Updated: Jun 4, 2026

In Vivo, Percutaneous, Needle Based, Optical Coherence Tomography of Renal Masses
Published on: March 30, 2015
An exceptional minute tumour incidentally found in a renal biopsy
David Buob1, Marie-Christine Copin, Thierry Perez
1Department of Pathology, CHU Lille, F-59000 Lille, France. buob.david@gmail.com
Abstract:
Pathological analysis of renal biopsies performed to investigate a nephrological disease may exceptionally reveal incidental tumours, in addition to expected glomerular, tubulointerstitial or vascular pathology. We present the first case to date of a minute angiomyolipoma (AML), found incidentally in a renal biopsy specimen, performed in the assessment of proteinuria. AML is an uncommon kidney tumour, composed of a variable proportion of adipose tissue, spindle and epithelioid smooth muscle cells. Immunohistochemistry is mandatory for a definitive diagnosis, showing a specific perivascular epithelioid differentiation. The diagnosis of renal AML justifies the search for tuberous sclerosis-associated tumours.
