ACUTE-RENAL-FAILURE DUE TO BILATERAL LYMPHOMATOUS INFILTRATES - PRIMARY EXTRANODAL NON-HODGKINS-LYMPHOMA (P-EN-NHL) OF THE KIDNEYS - DOES IT REALLY EXIST

Primary extranodal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (p-EN-NHL) of the kidneys wi th acute renal failure as the only manifestation is very rare. The ori gin of neoplastic lymphoid cells in the kidneys, organs normally free of lymphoid tissue, is an unsolved problem. A literature review over t he last ten years revealed only 9 adult cases, including ours that mat ch the usual criteria: (1) renal failure as the initial presentation, (2) bilateral enlargement of the kidneys without obstruction and other organ or nodal involvement, (3) diagnosis only made by renal biopsy, (4) absence of other causes of renal failure, and (5) rapid improvemen t of renal function after radiotherapy or, as in our case, systemic ch emotherapy. Autopsy on two patients confirmed that p-EN-NHL of the kid neys without dissemination does exist as a separate entity.