Fatal malignant metastastic epithelioid angiomyolipoma presenting in a young woman: case report and review of the literature

Recurrent epithelioid angiomyolipoma of the adrenal gland: a case report and literature review

Background

Epithelioid angiomyolipoma (EAML), a subtype of angiomyolipoma, is distinct. It has a biologic behavior of borderline tumor, a malignant tendency, and a risk of metastasis and recurrence. Adrenal EAML is very rare. It is true that only six cases of adrenal EAML have been documented in the English-language literature.

Case Description

A 65-year-old man who underwent a laparoscopic left adrenalectomy in July 2022 has adrenal EAML and this is a case report about it. The mass was surrounded by abundant blood vessels and adherence with surround-tissue. Postoperative pathology of the tumor analysis revealed adrenal epithelioid vascular smooth muscle lipoma. The patient underwent left upper abdomen and lumbar pain in July 2022. The enhanced computed tomography (CT) scan of the abdomen showed markedly enhanced masses in and around the left adrenal gland. A second left laparoscopic adrenalectomy was performed under general anesthesia. Postoperative pathology showed two taupe nodules of left adrenal, maximum diameter 0.9 to 1.1 cm. The postoperative pathological diagnosis in combination with immunohistochemistry was EAML. The patient was discharged 10 days later with symptomatic treatment with low molecular heparin.

Conclusions

Adrenal EAML has a biologic behavior of borderline tumor with malignant potential and a risk of distant metastasis and recurrence. Therefore, radical surgical resection should be considered as its necessary treatment. Long-term postoperative follow-up is an important part of the treatment.

Clinical and pathological features of renal epithelioid angiomyolipoma (PEComa): A single institution series

Renal angiomyolipomas are benign tumors of the kidney that belong to the 'PEComa: perivascular epithelioid cell' family. Epithelioid AMLs (eAML) are a rare monotypic subtype with malignant potential, that can occur sporadically or be associated with tuberous sclerosis (TSC). Due to their epithelioid nature, eAMLs can closely resemble high-grade renal cell carcinoma (RCC), which may result in misdiagnosis. Multiple clinicopathologic parameters are predictive of worse outcomes for patients with eAML. Those can be used to stratify patients into groups with low, intermediate and high risk for disease progression. A high index of suspicion and a thorough immunohistochemical study are required to correctly diagnose eAML. Radiographically, eAMLs are also a diagnostic challenge as they share features with RCC on CT and MR imaging. Due to this close mimicry, the true incidence of eAML is thought to be much higher than 200 cases as reported in the literature. We report a series of four patients diagnosed with eAML and compare their clinical courses. We also report on the successful treatment of a patient with pulmonary metastasis from eAML using the mTOR inhibitor, everolimus. By identifying eAML and recognizing its high-risk features, it is possible mTOR inhibitors may have a meaningful role in the adjuvant treatment of these patients.

Natural History and Treatment Strategies of Advanced PEComas: A Systematic Review

Simple Summary

In this article, we review the clinical features of advanced PEComas and show the diversity of reported data among authors, emphasizing the heterogeneity of molecular characterization and treatment strategy. Based on clinical data collected from 124 case reports, metastatic disease at diagnosis and a grouped version of the Bleeker’s risk category were the only factors significantly associated with death. Due to a significant number of missing data or short follow-ups, results regarding prognostic factors should, however, be interpreted with caution.

Abstract

PEComas is a family of rare mesenchymal tumors. This systematic review aims to better understand the natural history of advanced PEComas. After a search on the PubMed database and main oncology meeting libraries according to the PRISMA guidelines, 88 articles reported in the English literature were included. Data on clinical and histological features, treatments and outcomes were collected. To identify risk factors, univariate and multivariate analyses were performed. Seven cohorts of patients and 124 individual patients were identified. Focusing on case reports, most patients were metastatic, and the median overall survival (OS) of the entire cohort was 60 months (95%CI 33; NA). Risk factors significantly associated with OS in the multivariate analysis were the presence of metastasis at diagnosis (HR: 2.59, 95%CI 1.06; 6.33, p = 0.036) and the grouped-Bleeker’s risk category (HR: 4.66; 95%CI 1.07; 20.19; p = 0.039). In the metastatic population, only the presence of lymph node metastasis was associated with OS (HR: 3.11; 95%CI 1.13; 8.60, p < 0.05). Due to a lack of events, it was not possible to conclude on other factors. This review of the literature highlights the heterogeneity of literature data and shows the great diversity of clinical management strategies.

Advanced sporadic renal epithelioid angiomyolipoma: case report of an extraordinary response to sirolimus linked to TSC2 mutation

Background

Renal epithelioid angiomyolipomas (EAML) are rare tumors with aggressive behavior. EAML can be sporadic or develop within the tuberous sclerosis complex syndrome, where mutations of TSC1 or TSC2 genes (critical negative regulators of mTOR Complex 1) result in an increased activation of mTOR pathway. Optimal EAML treatment, including mTOR inhibitors, remains undetermined.

Case presentation

Here we present the case of a young adult with a renal EAML that after radical nephrectomy developed metastases, first in liver and then in lumbar vertebrae. After complete surgical resection of these lesions, liver recurrence was detected, this time with incomplete surgical resection. After finding a new liver lesion, systemic treatment with sirolimus started. The patient exhibited a complete and durable response to this drug, being disease free at the time of publication, after 36 months of treatment. Targeted next generation sequencing (NGS) of MTOR, TSC1 and TSC2 genes in the primary tumor, metastasis and blood of the patient, revealed one inactivating TSC2 mutation (c.2739dup; p.K914*) in the tumor cells. Immunohistochemistry revealed decreased TSC2 protein content and increased phospho-S6 in the tumor cells, demonstrating mTOR pathway activation.

Conclusion

NGS on an EAML patient with an extraordinary response to sirolimus uncovered TSC2 inactivation as the mechanism for the response. This study supports NGS as a useful tool to identify patients sensitive to mTOR inhibitors and supports the treatment of malignant EAML with these drugs.

Malignant epitheloid angiomyolipoma of the kidney in a child treated with sunitinib, everolimus and axitinib

The malignant variant of epithelioid angiomyolipoma (EAML) of the kidney is uncommon, extremely aggressive and behaves like a renal cell carcinoma. We present a case of a 12-year-old male with malignant EAML who was treated according to adult treatment protocols. To our knowledge, axitinib has not been used before in children. We conclude that adult protocols, in this rare case, could be safely used in rare childhood malignancies.

Epithelioid angiomyolipoma mimicking adrenal cortical carcinoma: A diagnostic pitfall

Epithelioid angiomyolipoma (EAML) is a rare mesenchymal neoplasmic variant of angiomyolipoma characterized by aggressive growth and unpredictable outcome. Cases of local recurrence and distant metastasis have been described. The histopathological diagnosis may be difficult, as EAML often mimics other neoplasms. This is the case report of a 39-year-old male patient with EAML, which was initially diagnosed as adrenal cortical carcinoma, due to the lack of cooperation between clinicians and pathologists.

Nephron sparing surgery for renal angiomyolipoma with inferior vena cava thrombus in tuberous sclerosis

Introduction. Angiomyolipoma is a common benign renal tumor. It is associated with Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC) in 20% of patients. Angiomyolipomas are classically multiple, bilateral, and growing; they may lead to complications such as Wunderlich syndrome or, in rare cases, to venous extension. Observation. a 74-year-old woman with TSC presented with an angiomyolipoma of the right kidney with inferior vena cava (IVC) fatty thrombus. She underwent partial nephrectomy and thrombectomy. After a 7-year follow-up there was no evidence of recurrence or metastasis and her renal function was preserved. Review of Literature. It is the 44th reported angiomyolipoma associated with IVC thrombus. The mean size of angiomyolipomas was 86.1 mm and 67.4% of patients were symptomatic. Pulmonary embolism was found in 6 patients. There were 2 cases of recurrence/metastatic outcome after radical nephrectomy and thrombectomy. They were associated with epithelioid form. The mean size of epithelioid tumors was significantly bigger than in classical angiomyolipomas (127.1 mm versus 82.6 mm, P = 0.037). With a median follow-up of 12 months, 91.3% of patients were recurrence and metastasis free, with 3 cases of nephron sparing surgery. Conclusion. Nephron sparing surgery for angiomyolipoma with IVC fatty thrombus can be safely performed in TSC, even in sporadic angiomyolipoma.