Renal angiomyolipoma as cause of massive retroperitoneal haemorrhage

A previously healthy woman was admitted to the hospital because of sudden pain in the right flank. Massive retroperitoneal haemorrhage was found to be the cause, produced by spontaneous rupture of an angiomyolipoma in the right kidney. Both the tumour and the kidney were removed. Owing to the rare occurrence of angiomyolipoma, preoperative diagnosis is seldom arrived at. If the presence of the tumour could be suspected and its benign character confirmed, the kidney itself or its intact part could often be saved.