Hematuria caused by atheromatous embolism: report of a case diagnosed intravitam.

Gross, painless hematuria as the only symptom in a 53-year-old male diabetic necessitated partial nephrectomy and was then found to have been caused by atheromatous embolism associated with recent infarction of the renal parenchyma. This case appears to be the first one reported in which the diagnosis of renal atheromatous embolization had been established intravitam. A similar episode of hematuria occurred a year postoperatively and another renal infarction, likely caused by atheromatous embolization, was demonstrable with tomographic and angiographic techniques.