Xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis: report of four cases

[Diffuse xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis: clinical, anatomopathologic, and therapeutic features. Report ot 9 cases and review of the literature]

Diffuse xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis is a rare chronic pyelonephritis. This study permitted us to notice the various histological, clinical, radiological, and the different means diagnoses of this affection. Retrospectively series of nine patients is reported. The median age was 43 years. The commonest clinical presentation was urinary tract infection, and lumbar pain. Urine culture identified a bacteria in seven cases (77%). Intravenous urography recovers silent kidney (five cases), hydronephrosis (two cases), chronic pyelonephritis (one case) and renal stones in six cases (67%). Treatment consisted of nephrectomy. No specific biological or radiological signs of this affection can be identifying this lesion in preoperative. The diagnosis was revealed by the histological examination of the removed kidney. The outcome is favorable after a follow-up of six months to four years. The clinical features of the pyelonephritis xanthogranulomatous is not specific. Magnetic resonance imaging can give a specificity to this affection. Only histological examination is able to established the definitive diagnosis.