Spontaneous Retroperitoneal Hemorrhage (Wunderlich Syndrome) due to Large Upper Pole Renal Angiomyolipoma: Does Robotic-Assisted Laparoscopic Partial Nephrectomy Have a Role in Primary Treatment?

Wunderlich Syndrome: Spontaneous Cystic Rupture on Account of Acquired Kidney Atrophy

Wunderlich syndrome is an uncommon condition of spontaneous subcapsular and perirenal hemorrhage of atraumatic etiology in the kidney, with the potential to spread to the retroperitoneal region beyond the perirenal fascias. Its clinical manifestations usually include Lenk's triad, namely, acute flank pain, flank mass, and hemodynamic instability, which vary depending on the causative underlying renal pathology. Tumor bleeding of benign and malignant renal neoplasms is the most common cause of this syndrome, followed by vascular disorders and renal cystic diseases. Here, we report the case of a unilateral subcapsular renal hematoma on account of a left atrophic kidney with parapelvic cystic formations and variant hypoplastic vasculature which was successfully managed via radical nephrectomy after initial conservative treatment. Spontaneous cystic rupture contributed to the emergence of the syndrome, and its mechanisms are being addressed.

Angiomyolipoma of the Glabellar Region

Angiomyolipomas are hamartomatous lesions consisting of smooth muscle bundles, thick-walled blood vessels, and mature adipocytes. They are usually found in the kidneys of tuberous sclerosis patients and more rarely in other organs, such as the liver, the oral cavity, the sinonasal tract, the heart, the large intestines, the lungs, and the skin. Cutaneous angiomyolipoma has shown to be very rare and generally occurs at the ends of the digits, the elbows, the ears, and the nose. Herein, we report the first documented case of angiomyolipoma of the glabellar region.

Evidence Supporting a Lymphatic Endothelium Origin for Angiomyolipoma, a TSC2(-) Tumor Related to Lymphangioleiomyomatosis

Angiomyolipoma (AML) is a tumor closely related to lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM). Both entities are characterized by the proliferation of smooth muscle actin and melanocytic glycoprotein 100 (recognized by antibody HMB-45)-positive spindle-shaped and epithelioid cells. AML and LAM are etiologically linked to mutations in the tsc2 and tsc1 genes in the case of LAM. These genes encode the proteins tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC)-1 and TSC2, which are directly involved in suppressing the mechanistic target of rapamycin cell growth signaling pathway. Although significant progress has been made in characterizing and pharmacologically slowing the progression of AML and LAM with rapamycin, our understanding of their pathogenesis lacks an identified cell of origin. We used an AML-derived cell line to determine whether TSC2 restitution brings about the cell type from which AML arises. We found that AML cells express lymphatic endothelial cell markers consistent with lymphatic endothelial cell precursors in vivo and in vitro. Moreover, on TSC2 correction, AML cells mature into adult lymphatic endothelial cells and have functional attributes characteristic of this cell lineage, suggesting a lymphatic endothelial cell of origin for AML. These effects are dependent on TSC2-mediated mechanistic target of rapamycin inactivation. Finally, we demonstrate the in vitro effectiveness of norcantharidin, a lymphangiogenesis inhibitor, as a potential co-adjuvant therapy in the treatment of AML.

Bilateral Multifocal Renal Angiomyolipoma Associated with Wunderlich's Syndrome in A Tuberous Sclerosis Patient

Renal Angiomyolipoma (renal AML) is a benign clonal neoplasm with a incidence of 0.3-3%, occurring as isolated sporadic entity or in association with Tuberous sclerosis (TS) in 80% cases. Multiple, bilateral renal AML are considered diagnostic of Tuberous sclerosis. Wunderlich's syndrome, a urological emergency is a spontaneous nontraumatic bleeding into subcapsular and or peri-renal space and is a life threatening complication of renal AML occurring in 10% cases which has to be timely diagnosed and treated. Here, we present an unusual case of TS with bilateral, multifocal renal AML in a 25-year-old female who presented with Wunderlich's syndrome, which is a rare but life threatening complication that has to be suspected, timely diagnosed and treated. We have discussed the importance of early diagnosis, timely treatment, follow up and education of patient and relatives of the possible complications associated.

Laparoscopic treatment of a spontaneously ruptured kidney (wunderlich syndrome)

Spontaneous, nontraumatic retroperitoneal hemorrhage or Wunderlich syndrome (WS) is a rare but potential life-threatening condition. In most patients a bleeding renal neoplasm is the cause of the retroperitoneal hematoma. The management of this condition includes a conservative approach in the hemodynamically stable patients and active treatment in the unstable patients. Active treatment includes angioembolization or surgery. If angioembolization is not available open surgery is in most cases the preferred approach. We present a patient with a spontaneously ruptured kidney due to a central renal angiomyolipoma, which was treated by laparoscopic nephrectomy.

Bilateral wünderlich syndrome caused by spontaneous rupture of renal angiomyolipomas

Wünderlich syndrome (WS) is a urological emergency characterized by retroperitoneal hemorrhage. In most cases, bleeding occurs from a renal angiomyolipoma (AML) and may be the first manifestation of the disease. We report a female patient with bilateral WS due to the metachronous rupture of renal AMLs. Because the patient was stable and the tumor was not malignant, treatment was conservative. Follow-up revealed the full recovery of kidney function and the resolution of the hematoma.