Angiomyolipoma presenting as renal abscesses: a consideration for further evaluation of renal abscess

This is to describe an usual presentation of renal angiomyolipoma as renal abscess

This is a case report of a 51 year old man with clinical and radiological features suggestive of renal abscess. The patient had exploratory laparatomy and a simple nephrectomy for a non functioning kidney which was more like a bag of pus. The histological report however revealed renal abscess coexisting with angiomyolipoma supporting previous reports that renal abscess may be a harbinger of other renal pathologies.

Abscesses are usually managed by drainage and the dictum of 'wherever there is pus let it out' holds generally but this does not always suffice in renal abscesses because renal abscesses are often found in the background of other diseases which may be of more clinical importance.