angiomyolipoma

Hi could anyone possibly give me some help me please, I've been to the hospital this morning and been told I have a 7cm angiomyolipoma on my left kidney, the consultant really wasn't helpful and has fast tracked me for CT scan..do these things get removed? Or are you given meds to control it? I also have a 6cm cyst on right kidney also that I've had for some time now...any information would be much appreciated to stop asking Dr Google and driving myself round the bend!!

  • Hello JLa250777 and thanks for posting, 

    I am sorry that the consultant you saw this morning wasn't very forthcoming.

    From what I have read, it seems that angiomyolipomas (AMLs) are rare benign (non cancerous) tumours of the kidney consisting of a mixture of blood vessels, fat, and muscle. Large tumours may have a risk of spontaneous bleeding. I get the impression that they are treated to prevent bleeding.

    Some patients with AML are monitored for a while, surgery can be an option and so can something called embolisation which is a procedure to block blood vessels which in this case are abnormal. 

    Some AMLs are linked to a condition called tuberous sclerosis in which case medication can be used to treat them, but most AMLs are not linked to this and are said to be sporadic which means they just happen out of the blue.  

    I am afraid that is probably as much as I can tell you. I hope that your consultant is more forth coming at your next appointment and can tell you more. 

    Best wishes,

    Julia

  • Hi Julia,

    Thankyou so much for your reply, I was so worried as nothing was really explained to me, I feel a little better after you reply

     

    thanks 

    Jaime