Management Outcomes of Large Renal Angiomyolipoma Presenting with Wunderlich Syndrome—Experience from a Tertiary Center

Abstract

Renal angiomyolipoma is an uncommon, benign-mixed mesenchymal tumor consisting of thick-walled blood vessels, smooth muscles, and mature adipose tissues. Twenty percent of these tumors are associated with tuberous sclerosis. Wunderlich syndrome (WS), an acute nontraumatic spontaneous perirenal hemorrhage, can be a presentation of large angiomyolipoma. This study evaluated the presentation, management, and complications of renal angiomyolipoma with WS in eight patients who presented to the emergency department between January 2019 and December 2021. The presenting symptoms included flank pain, palpable mass, hematuria, and bleeding in the perinephric space on computerized tomography. Demographic data, symptoms at presentation, comorbidities, hemodynamic parameters, the association with tuberous sclerosis, transfusion requirements, need for angioembolization, surgical management, Clavien–Dindo complication, duration of hospital stay, and 30-day readmission rates were evaluated. The mean age of presentation was 38 years. Of the eight patients, five (62.5%) were females and 3(37.5%) were males. Two (25%) patients had tuberous sclerosis with angiomyolipoma, and three (37.5%) patients presented with hypotension. The mean packed cell transfusion was three units, and the mean tumor size was 7.85 cm (3.5–25 cm). Three of them (37.5%) required emergency angioembolization to prevent exsanguination. Embolization was unsuccessful in one patient (33%) who underwent emergency open partial nephrectomy, and one (33%) patient developed post-embolization syndrome. A total of six patients underwent elective surgery—four underwent partial nephrectomy (laparoscopic - 1, robotic - 1, open - 2) and two underwent open nephrectomy. Three patients encountered Clavien–Dindo complications (Grade 1, n = 2 and IIIA, n = 2). WS is a rare, life-threatening complication in patients with large angiomyolipoma. Judicious optimization, angioembolization, and prompt surgical intervention will help deliver better outcomes.