Published online Jun 26, 2020. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v8.i12.2502
Peer-review started: February 24, 2020
First decision: March 27, 2020
Revised: April 10, 2020
Accepted: May 19, 2020
Article in press: May 19, 2020
Published online: June 26, 2020
Processing time: 120 Days and 21.5 Hours
Minimal-fat angiomyolipoma (mf-AML) is often misdiagnosed as renal cell carcinoma before operation, which leads to unnecessary operation. Improving the rate of preoperative diagnosis is helpful to reduce unnecessary surgical treatment.
The magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features of mf-AML are different from those of typical AML. Summarizing and analyzing the imaging features of mf-AML are helpful to improve the understanding of the disease and avoid unnecessary surgery.
To summarize the MRI features of mf-AML in order to improve the rate of preoperative diagnosis of mf-AML.
The MRI features of mf-AML confirmed by operation and pathology were retrospectively analyzed, including morphological features, lipids, capsule, washout and so on. These lesions were diagnosed as renal cell carcinoma before operation or could not be diagnosed clearly.
A retrospective analysis of the results of ten cases of AML revealed a circular-like mass in 4/10 (40%) patients, an oval mass in 6/10 (60%), a mass with a capsule in 9/10 (90%), and a mass with a lipid component in 7/10 (70%). But it still needs studies with a larger sample size to prove it.
An oval morphological characteristic is strong evidence for the diagnosis of mf-AML, while a capsule and lipids are atypical manifestations of mf-AML.
The imaging features of mf-AML are not typical, morphological features are very important for the diagnosis of renal tumors, and lipids and capsules can also be MRI findings of mf-AML. Some imaging features of mf-AML overlap with renal cell carcinoma, so it is necessary to comprehensively analyze its imaging features to improve the rate of preoperative diagnosis.