Renal hemangioma: diagnostic aspects and management techniques.

Renal hemangiomas are rare lesions that demonstrate a spectrum of clinical, radiographic, and pathologic presentation. Angiographic differentiation from renal cell carcinoma is usually possible, and in such cases conservative management should be attempted. Hemangiomas are in some ways similar to arteriovenous malformations, but lack the rapid and pronounced pre-capillary shunting that characterize the latter. Three cases are presented, two managed surgically with one requiring nephroscopy for diagnosis, and one managed non-operatively. Brush biopsies of lesions with pyelographic characteristics of renal hemangioma should not be attempted without prior angiography.