A case report of a xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis case mimicking the recurrence of renal cell carcinoma after partial nephrectomy.

A 44-year-old female presented to the urology clinic with flank pain and tenderness. After full assessment, the patient was booked for surgery for partial nephrectomy and the patient was diagnosed with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) chromophob type. Six months later, the patient came back for follow-up; a mass was detected on the same kidney. Radical nephrectomy was performed to excise what is thought to be a recurrence of RCC and the tissues were sent to pathology. The postoperative pathology report confirmed the presence of xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis rather than RCC recurrence.