Abstract
Renal tumors may be malignant or benign. Oncocytomas are one of the common renal tumors.
30% of tumors less than 2cm are benign they are usually asymptomatic. Some patients with
oncocytomas may have symptoms like abdominal pain and haematuria.
A 72 ear old man presented with a progressively increasing abdominal swelling of 6 years
duration. There was no pain, no haematuria, no change in bowel habits. He was not jaundiced
and did not have facial or pedal oedema. His blood work was essentially normal with a creatinine
of 98µmol/L and a haemoglobin level of 12g/dl. A contrast enhanced Computer tomography scan
showed a huge, heterogeneously enhancing left renal mass. He has exploratory laparotomy with
left nephrectomy. The tumor weighed 4.3kg and measured 26x22cm. Histology of the lesion
revealed an oncoytoma with no pericapsular invasion.
Renal oncocytomas were first described by Zippel in 1942 and were initially thought to be
malignant. Oncocytoma of the kidney occurs more in the seventh decade of life and more common
in males than females. There are no definitive criteria on CT scan to differentiate oncocytomas
from renal cell carcinomas though oncocytomas may have a central scar and hypervascularity.
This does not definitely identify oncocytoma. Oncocytoma may coexist with renal cell carcinoma.
There are varied opinions as to the ideal treatment for oncocytoma. Most surgeons prefer to
operate on the patient.