Affiliation:
1. UO di Urologia, Ospedale di Isola della Scala, ASL 22 Bussolengo, Verona
Abstract
The rupture of the kidney with the formation of an extracapsular hematoma in the renal cavity but no evidence of external trauma or other obvious renal cause, is an uncommon finding, most often requiring urgent surgery. An underlying renal pathology, often a renal tumor, should always be suspected. This article describes the case of a 57-year-old male patient who was admitted for severe left flank pain and presented with signs of peritonism, microscopic hematuria and low hemoglobin levels; an emergency left subcostal laparotomy was performed, with removal of the hematoma and enucleation of a partially open mid-renal mass; the kidney was spared. Histology showed a WHO type I, Fuhrman grade 2, papillary renal cell carcinoma. The article deals further with frequency, presentation, type and treatment of the pathology underlying the spontaneous rupture of the kidney, particularly with regard to renal carcinoma.