Learning objectives
To describe the CT findings of renal pelvic wall thickening and to correlate them with their etiology.
Background
The renal sinus is a spacious central cavity formed by the extension of the perinephric space into the deep recess located at the medial border of the kidney,
and is surrounded by the renal parenchyma.
It is occupied by the major branches of the renal artery and vein,
the major and minor calyces and the renal pelvis,
the kidney’s collecting system.
The remainder of the sinus contains adipose tissue,
lymphatic channels,
nerve fibers of the autonomic nervous system,
and varying quantities of fibrous tissue Fig....
Findings and procedure details
The renal pelvis may present a variety of abnormalities,
which either arise primarily from sinus structures or extend into it secondarily from the adjacent cortex or retroperitoneum.
Thickening of the renal pelvis may have an inflammatory/infectious or neoplastic etiology and may be mucosal or submucosal.
The identification of additional radiological features besides wall thickening – lithiasis,
pyelonephritis,
alterations in renal parenchyma,
segmental or diffuse thickening or the presence of air,
retroperitoneal adenopathies or the association with clinical and analytical findings – facilitate accurate diagnosis.
In...
Conclusion
Thickening of the renal pelvis on CT should be correlated with additional radiological and analytical findings in order to establish the correct diagnosis.
Personal information
David Coll Gimenez
Fundació Althaia.
Xarxa Assistencial Universitària de Manresa.
Barcelona.
Spain.
[email protected]
References
Sung Eun Rha,
MD,
Jae Young Byun,
MD,
Seung Eun Jung,
MD,
Soon Nam Oh,
MD,
Yeong-Jin Choi,
MD,
Ahwon Lee,
MD,
and Jae Mun Lee,
MD.
The Renal Sinus: Pathologic Spectrum and Multimodality Imaging Approach.
RadioGraphics October 2004; 24:S117–S131.
O’Connor O J,
Maher M M.
CT urography.
American Journal of Roentgenology.November 2010; 195:W320–W324.
A Kawashima,
C M Sandler,
S M Goldman,
B K Raval,
and E K Fishman.
CT of renal inflammatory disease.
RadioGraphics 1997.
17; 851-866.
Lee,
W.-K.
Van Tonder,
F.
Tartaglia,
C.J....