Transarterial Embolization of a Ruptured Renal Angiomyolipoma

A 38-year-old man with no known relevant medical history presented with right flank pain of sudden onset. The patient had no history of trauma. On examination, his right abdomen showed tenderness on palpitation. Computed tomography of the abdomen with intravenous contrast showed a heterogeneous 13×9 cm mass on the right kidney containing adipose tissue and perirenal hematoma (Picture 1). A diagnosis of ruptured renal angiomyolipoma (AML) was made and transarterial embolization was performed. An angiogram of the right upper renal artery demonstrated pseudoaneurysm in the tumor (Picture 2). An angiogram obtained after embolization showed occlusion of the feeding artery of the AML along with the disappearance of the pseudoaneurysm and the tumor vascularity (Picture 3). Although renal AML is a benign tumor, if the tumor becomes enlarged it can rupture and cause life-threating retroperitoneal bleeding (1). Transarterial embolization is an effective treatment for a ruptured renal AML.