Xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis (XGPN) is a chronic renal infection typically associated with nephrolithiasis and a non-functioning kidney. Renal tuberculosis is a major cause of morbidity in developing countries. Despite recent advances in diagnosis, it is sometimes difficult to differentiate renal tuberculosis preoperatively from XGPN. We present herewith a case report of a patient who was preoperatively diagnosed with a right non-functioning kidney due to renal calculus with stage 3 XGPN and adjacent liver abscess on computed tomography. Subsequent histopathological examination of the nephrectomised specimen revealed renal tuberculosis. To our knowledge this is the first case of renal tuberculosis spreading to the liver and causing liver abscess formation which was misdiagnosed as XGPN preoperatively.