The diagnostic dilemma of renal angiomyolipoma

The diagnosis of renal angiomyolipoma has always been difficult to make preoperatively. When the clinical and radiologic features are highly suggestive of an angiomyolipoma, the surgeon may resort to open renal frozen-section biopsy in an attempt to avoid unnecessary radical nephrectomy. The authors report two cases of renal angiomyolipoma that highlight the diagnostic problems of the tumour and the difficulty in differentiating it from renal adenocarcinoma. This is a major problem for urologists in centres where facilities for computerized axial tomography are unavailable.