Xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis with emphasis on computerized tomography scan. Retrospective study of 20 cases and literature review.

The authors reviewed 20 cases of xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis. An accurate preoperative diagnosis of this disease is difficult because of its clinical and radiologic similarities to various other renal lesions. A resistant urinary tract infection in a patient with a nonfunctioning kidney and a perinephric abscess should lead to the condition being suspected. Although xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis is mainly a histologic diagnosis, computerized tomography opens new perspectives in the preoperative determination. This could allow less radical surgery in selected cases.