Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, including details on symptoms, causes, trauma, diagnosis, physiotherapy.

Genital beta2-microglobulin amyloidoma in a long-term dialysis patient.

Okuda I, Ubara Y, Takaichi K, Kitajima I, Motoi N, Hara S, Kokubo T

Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Nephrology Center, Toranomon Hospital, Tokyo, Japan. okudai@toranomon.gr.jp

We present the case of a 58-year-old Japanese woman with a huge amyloid tumor in the genital region. Hemodialysis therapy was started for renal failure secondary to polycystic kidney disease in 1974. From 1989 to 1991, carpal tunnel decompression was performed surgically, and beta(2)-microglobulin (beta2MG)-amyloid deposition was found in the wrists. She was hospitalized at our institute for evaluation of lower-abdominal fullness and lower-extremity edema in March 2003. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a huge mass measuring 9.0 x 6.0 x 5.0 cm sandwiched between the vagina and rectum. The mass was hypointense compared with adjacent muscle on T2-weighted images. Computed tomography showed soft-tissue density accompanied by diffuse calcification. A biopsy specimen of the mass obtained by using a transvaginal approach showed material that was positive for beta2MG-amyloid immunohistologically. When patients on long-term dialysis therapy develop a genital mass with low-signal intensity on T2-weighted images by magnetic resonance imaging and diffuse calcification by computed tomography, beta2MG-amyloidoma should be considered as a differential diagnosis.

Published 25 August 2006 in Am J Kidney Dis, 48(3): e35-9.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

© 2005-2008 Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Research Today. All Rights Reserved.