Localized Candidiasis in Kidney Presented as a Mass Mimicking Renal Cell Carcinoma

Candida albicans is a ubiquitous fungus and infection of urinary tract by C. albicans can be originated from blood or retrograde infection. We reported a case of localized candidiasis in the kidney presenting as a mass. The patient was a 61-year-old male with a history of type 2 diabetes mellitus and urinary bladder urothelial carcinoma status post radical cystoprostatectomy with a neobladder three years ago. Pathology at that time also showed a prostatic adenocarcinoma (Gleason score 3 + 4) in addition to the high-grade urothelial carcinoma. Three month ago the patient presented with flank pain, chill, and increased white cell counts. Imaging study showed a large renal mass suspicious for a renal cell carcinoma. Radical nephrectomy was performed and found that there was a large pocket of pus in the retroperitoneum around the right kidney during the surgery. Intraoperative abscess cultures were positive for C. albicans. Pathology showed a 13.5 cm necrotic renal mass extending to the perinephric fat. Histologically the tumor showed necrotic granulomatous inflammation. Grocott stain in the surgical specimen was positive for pseudohyphae and yeast forms. The patient was initiated a course of fluconazole postoperatively and was feeling well.