Angiomyolipoma of the Kidney

nonshadowing echogenic focus in kidney
nonshadowing echogenic focus in kidney

What is an angiomyolipoma?

In angiomyolipoma (AML) — sometimes called renal angiomyolipoma — cells inside your kidney grow in ways that aren’t typical. These cells form a mass called a tumor (neoplasm).

Angiomyolipomas are benign (not cancerous). Fat (adipose tissue), smooth muscle and blood vessels make up these tumors. If the tumor grows too large, it may cause symptoms such as bleeding, anemia, fever and kidney pain.

Who might get angiomyolipoma in a kidney?

Anyone can get an angiomyolipoma. But the condition is more common in women, especially those 40 to 60 years old.

Angiomyolipomas also happen more often in people who have certain health conditions, including:

  • Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM).
  • Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC).

How common is angiomyolipoma in kidneys?

Angiomyolipomas occur in less than 1% of the general population. But they are the most common benign kidney tumor. And they’re very common in people with tuberous sclerosis complex — more than half of people with TSC develop angiomyolipomas.

Are there different types of angiomyolipomas?

There are three types of AML kidney, based on the type of cells and tissue the tumor contains:

  • Classic (triphasic) AMLs: Most angiomyolipomas (AMLs) contain three types of tissue — blood vessels, fat and smooth muscle tissue.
  • Monophasic AMLs: Some AMLs contain almost all of one type of tissue, such as smooth muscle or fat.
  • Epithelioid angiomyolipomas: These angiomyolipomas are mostly made up of cells that line your kidney’s blood vessels (epithelioid cells). These tumors may be more likely to become cancer.

How serious is an angiomyolipoma?

Many people with angiomyolipoma don’t know they have the condition. If the tumor grows larger than about 4 centimeters (about the size of a walnut), it could cause bleeding (hemorrhage). This bleeding can be life-threatening if it’s not treated.

How fast does an angiomyolipoma grow?

Many classic angiomyolipomas don’t grow at all. If these tumors do get larger, growth usually happens very slowly. On average, these tumors grow at about 0.19 centimeters — about one-sixteenth of an inch — each year. However, during pregnancy, these tumors can grow more rapidly. Therefore if you have an angiomyolipoma and are considering having a child, it may be prudent to treat the angiomyolipoma prior to pregnancy.

This post was last modified on November 22, 2024 4:19 am