The radiology of juxtaglomerular tumors.

Abstract

Nine cases of proven juxtaglomerular tumor of the [human] kidney are reviewed. Each patient presented with hypertension; elevated peripheral renin levels were found in 4 patients. As in past studies, this tumor occurred more frequently in women (7/9 cases). Although the patients tended to be younger (mean age, 31 yr) than those with essential hypertension, all but 2 patients were more than 20 yr of age. In all cases, the tumor was solitary, well-defined and curable by surgery. The tumor was identified by excretory urography in 5/8 patients who underwent this procedure. A solid renal mass was detected in each of the 7 patients examined by ultrasound. Since the tumor tends to be isodense with normal renal parenchyma, it is sometimes not seen on computed tomography without i.v. contrast material. Arteriography revealed a hypovascular mass in each of the 9 patients. The combination of a hypovascular solid renal mass in a patient with elevated renin but no renal artery lesions should suggest the diagnosis of a juxtaglomerular cell tumor.