BERKELEY, CA (UroToday.com) - Large (>4 cm) or clinically symptomatic angiomyolipomas (AML) are common in patients with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC). These types of tumors should be primarily managed with transcatheter embolization. In this study of 16 patients, treated for 27 tumors, there were no intraoperative complications, no renal failures or hemorrhage developing during three to nine years of followup. The postembolization syndrome required hospitalization for between two to five days and consisted of pain, nausea and vomiting, or fever. The fever typically peaked at 48 hours after the embolization procedure. However, these symptoms were adequately managed with intravenous fluids, analgesics, antipyretics, and anti-emetics. Transcatheter embolization for large or symptomatic AML due to TSC is minimally invasive, preserves renal function, and can be performed multiple times. There rarely remains an indication to address these lesions by extirpative renal surgery.

J Urol 174: 1764-1766, 2005