Xanthogranulomatous Pyelonephritis Successfully Treated with Antibiotics Only

A 73-year-old woman with leukemia presented with urinary tract infection, splenic abscess, and a renal mass. Both urine culture and pus culture of the splenic abscess yielded Klebsiella pneumoniae. Percutaneous biopsy of the renal mass confirmed the diagnosis of xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis. Because of high risk for surgery, the patient received treatment with antibiotic therapy for 2 months. With antibiotic therapy, not only was the splenic abscess cured but follow-up ultrasonography also showed progressive resolution of the renal mass. Xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis is frequently associated with urinary tract obstruction or nephrolithiasis. In this first report of xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis in a patient with leukemia and splenic abscess, we provide a short review of xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis successfully treated with antibiotics only. [J Chin MedAssoc 2008;71(12):643-645]