Angiomyolipoma (AML) without visible fat: Ultrasound, CT and MR imaging features with pathological correlation.

Abstract

To compare imaging findings with histopathology in AML without visible fat (AMLwvf). With IRB approval, we identified 18 AMLwvf that underwent CT between 2002-2014. A radiologist measured NECT-attenuation, corticomedullary (CM) and nephrographic (NG) enhancement, echogenicity relative to renal cortex (RC) (N = 5), T2W (T2AML/T2RC) signal-intensity (SI), and chemical-shift SI ([SIIN-PHASE - SIOPPOSED-PHASE]/SIIN-PHASE) indices (N = 6). A pathologist re-evaluated 15/18 AMLwvf for 1) < or > 25% adipocytes/high-power-field (HPF), 2) "many or few" blood vessels. Comparisons were performed using chi-square and independent t-tests. 73.3%(11/15) of AMLwvf had <25% adipocytes/HPF and 86.7%(13/15) had "many" blood vessels. NECT-attenuation was 41.8(±6.9) HU. 61.1 %(11/18) of AMLwvf were hyper-attenuating and 38.9%(7/18) iso-attenuating; attenuation was associated with %-adipocytes/HPF, (p = 0.01). CM/NG enhancement were 63.3(±20.8)/51.7(±15.5) HU. 72.2%(13/18) of AMLwvf had wash-out enhancement, with no association with amount of blood vessels at pathology, (p = 0.68). No difference in echogenicity was noted by histology (p > 0.05). All AMLwvf were T2-hypointense (SI ratio = 0.61 [±0.1]). 2/6 AMLwvf showed SI drop on chemical-shift MRI; both were iso-attenuating and were associated with >25% adipocytes/HPF (p = 0.04). AMLwvf are typically T2-hypointense and hyper-attenuating with wash-out enhancement due to abundant smooth muscle and vessels respectively. Iso-attenuating AMLwvf with microscopic fat on MRI contain more adipocytes/HPF. • Five percent of AML do not demonstrate detectable fat on imaging • These AML are hyperattenuating and T2-hypointense due to abundant smooth muscle • These AML show washout enhancement without association to vessel count at histopathology • Iso-attenuating AML with microscopic fat on MRI show >25% adipocytes/HPF • The term "AML without visible fat" is proposed to reduce ambiguity.