Xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis: from diagnosis to treatment

Xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis represents a chronic pyelonephritis entity of histological diagnosis. Its clinical presentation and radiological aspects are not specific and the discovery of the diagnosis is often made on the anatomopathological examination of the surgical specimen, the only means that allows the diagnosis of GXP to be made with certainty. The focal tumor-like form of GXP is often mistaken for renal cancer, leading to partial or, sometimes, enlarged nephrectomies. The association of a biological inflammatory syndrome with scannographic images of peri-lesional inflammation on a dilated lithiasis kidney should prompt us to evoke the diagnosis and to propose a renal biopsy to confirm the diagnosis and thus avoid a disabling and unnecessary surgery. Primary prevention is ensured by screening subjects at risk and early and adequate management of urinary tract infections, lithiasis and urinary malformations. This entity should also receive more attention in the literature so that it is effectively included among the possible diagnoses in the face of a c