How To Treat Angiomyolipoma

Angiomyolipoma refers to a typically benign kidney tumor. However, just because it is benign, it is not always easy to treat, though there are several methods for treating angiomyolipoma. Once they are detected and diagnosed through magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), a computerized tomography (CT) scan, or ultrasound, angiomyolipoma can be treated using quite a few different techniques. Generally speaking, the prognosis for recovery is good so long as the size of the tumor is relatively small. Unfortunately, as angiomyolipoma tumors gain in size, they can cause bleeding and become more challenging to treat. Get to know the various treatment methods now.

Medication

As of right now, there is only one type of medicine the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved to treat angiomyolipoma, called everolimus. It is mostly recommended for tumors growing larger than three centimeters in diameter and are considered asymptomatic. Everolimus can block the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), which has shown some involvement in tumor growth when it becomes over-activated. Suppressing it has shown promise in cancer patients and those with angiomyolipoma. Patients can opt to take everolimus orally or to get it as a tablet dissolved in water. Since it is an immunosuppressant, there are some risks for side-effects when taking everolimus for angiomyolipoma, including the decreased ability to fight off invading viruses and bacteria.

Keep reading to understand more ways to treat angiomyolipoma.