Fine-needle aspiration of renal angiomyolipoma: a report of four cases.

OBJECTIVE

Renal angiomyolipoma is an uncommon benign tumour composed of smooth muscle cells, blood vessels and adipose tissue. The cytological findings of this tumour are described.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis of four cases of angiomyolipoma diagnosed on fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) during the period 1998-2004 was carried out. All the aspirations were carried out under ultrasonographic image guidance.

RESULTS

Smears from three cases showed oval- to spindle-shaped tumour cells, cohesive stromal fragments embedded in adipose tissue and branching blood vessels in a haemorrhagic background. No mitotic figures were seen. Smears from one case showed adipose tissue and blood. In this case, sections from the cell block showed mature adipose tissue and small blood vessels.

CONCLUSION

The diagnosis of angiomyolipoma can be made by FNAC under image guidance and a cell block may be quite helpful in making a correct diagnosis. It is important to establish a correct preoperative diagnosis as treatment of these tumours is conservative and this obviates the need for total nephrectomy.