The renal lesions of tuberous sclerosis

Renal involvement in the tuberous sclerosis complex includes angiomyolipomas, cysts, and carcinomas. Angiomyolipomas, despite a sometimes frightening histopathologic appearance, are benign. Cystic disease, apparently resulting from tubular epithelial hyperplasia, causes hypertension and renal insufficiency, progressing to end-stage renal disease. The same epithelial hyperplasia predisposes to renal carcinoma.