ABSTRACT

The Xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis (XPN) is a rare type of pyelonephritis (found in 4.0% to 8.2% of

kidneys with pyelonephritis), where the renal parenchyma is infiltrated by lipid-laden foamy macrophages

resulting in renal parenchymal destruction. It is associated with urolithiasis, diabetes mellitus, urinary tract

obstruction and infections. The inflammation and the fibrosis infiltrates into the surrounding tissues.

However renal vein thrombosis extending into the inferior vena cava (IVC) as a result of inflammation is rare.

We report a case of left renal XPN and renal vein thrombosis extending into the inferior vena cava (IVC). This

was treated with radical nephrectomy and IVC tumour clearance.

Keywords: Xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis, inferior vena cava thrombosis, nephrectomy