Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 24, 2026

11:27
Modeling Spontaneous Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma (mRCC) in Mice Following Nephrectomy
Published on: April 29, 2014
[Renal epithelioid angiomyolipoma with malignant behavior]
Tetsuo Ishikawa1, Fumio Ito, Izumi Kanemitsu
1The Department of Urology, Tokyo Women's Medical University Medical Center East.
Hinyokika Kiyo. Acta Urologica Japonica
|February 21, 2012
Summary
A rare epithelioid angiomyolipoma (eAML) in a young woman with tuberous sclerosis presented atypically. This malignant potential subtype of AML led to rapid disease progression and death despite surgical intervention.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Pathology
- Genetics
Background:
- Tuberous sclerosis is a genetic disorder that can lead to benign tumors in various organs.
- Angiomyolipomas (AMLs) are typically benign tumors, but a rare subtype, epithelioid AML (eAML), has malignant potential.
Observation:
- A 22-year-old woman with tuberous sclerosis presented with abdominal distention.
- CT scans revealed bilateral renal masses atypical for classical AML and signs suggestive of advanced malignancy.
- The patient developed pleural effusion and ascites, indicating widespread disease.
Findings:
- Pathological examination of the left nephrectomy specimen identified a tumor composed of epithelioid and spindle cells.
- Immunohistochemistry confirmed the tumor as an epithelioid angiomyolipoma (eAML), positive for αSMA and HMB-45.
- The tumor exhibited features of malignancy, distinct from typical AML.
Implications:
- This case highlights the aggressive nature and diagnostic challenges of epithelioid angiomyolipoma (eAML) in young patients with tuberous sclerosis.
- Early recognition and aggressive management strategies for eAML are crucial, despite its rarity.
- Further research into the molecular mechanisms and optimal treatment of eAML is warranted.
