Description
One pole of the kidney is expanded by a spherical tumour, some 10 cm. in diameter, which appears to
be encapsulated. The external surface is smooth for the greater part, although there are some
obviously nodular areas at the upper pole. The cut surface shows a central fibrous area surrounded
by a nodular, tan-coloured, tumour in which there are several small areas of haemorrhage.
History
This woman was admitted to hospital at the age of 36 for investigation of the liver
enlargement; this had been noted on routine examination several months before. An arteriogram
showed a large well-circumscribed vascular tumour, some 12 cm. in diameter, arising from the lower
pole of the right kidney. This was removed, and the histology was that of an adenoma arising from
the epithelium of the proximal tubes of the kidney (Oncocytoma). At the present time, there have
been some 28 of these reported in the world literature, and all these have been benign. For further
information see 'Cancer', 38, 906, 1976.