title: Clinical evaluation of epithelioid angiomyolipoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Epithelioid angiomyolipomas (AML) of the kidney are malignant tumors with aggressive clinical behavior.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Authors report on some cases epithelioid AM recently diagnosed at their Institute to highlight the spectrum of clinical presentations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In all cases, renal lesions observed at computed tomography were suspicious for renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Histologically, these tumors can resemble RCC. The diagnosis of epithelioid AML was established by positive staining for melanoma and smooth muscle cell markers, and presence of perivascular epithelioid cells. Four patient presented with a renal tumor extending into the inferior vena cava to the level of the hepatic veins. Two patients developed recurrent, metastatic disease following nephrectomy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These tumors are distinguished from RCC by positive immunostaining for melanoma markers and smooth muscle cell markers. They resemble conventional RCC on imaging. Epithelioid AML, may be locally aggressive and metastasized.
authors: Department of Surgery, University of Catania, Catania, Italy. graziano@policlinico.unict.it
authors: Antonino
authors: A
authors: Graziano
authors: Marco
authors: M
authors: Santangelo
authors: Danilo Savio
authors: DS
authors: Umana
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018207:Angiomyolipoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000175:diagnosis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007668:Kidney / Q000473:pathology; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009392:Nephrectomy; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed