CT and MRI Characteristic Findings of Sporadic Renal Hemangioblastoma: Two Case Reports and Review of the Literature

Abstract BackgroundHemangioblastoma in the kidney is rare. Although a few renal hemangioblastoma cases have been reported, the content of these articles mainly focused on clinical and pathological research, with minimal descriptions of radiologic findings. Moreover, there are no descriptions of magnetic resonance imaging with enhancement for this condition. We herein report two cases of renal hemangioblastoma with computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging findings.Case presentationTwo patients presented to our institution due to dull pain of the left abdomen, and a mass in the left kidney was found by ultrasound examination in each case. They had no special family history. Physical examination revealed no obvious tenderness or percussion pain in the renal region and ureteral walking area, and there was no obvious mass. Routine blood and urine tests were normal, and serum tumor markers were negative. No obvious lesions were found on imaging of other body parts. Similar radiologic findings were observed in both cases and mimicked those of cavernous hemangiomas of the liver, including peripheral nodular enhancement in the corticomedullary phase, progressive centripetal enhancement in the nephrographic and delayed phases, and occasional complete “filling in” in the delayed phase. Given the suspicion for renal cell carcinoma, both patients underwent partial nephrectomy. The pathological results showed renal hemangioblastoma.ConclusionsRenal hemangioblastoma is a rare benign tumor that is easily misdiagnosed as clear cell carcinoma. Characteristic computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging manifestations may improve preoperative diagnostic accuracy to avoid surgery or indicate nephron-sparing surgery.