Intrathoracic kidney
Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
At the time the article was created Ayush Goel had no recorded disclosures.
View Ayush Goel's current disclosuresAt the time the article was last revised Mostafa Elfeky had no financial relationships to ineligible companies to disclose.
View Mostafa Elfeky's current disclosures- Thoracic kidney
- Thoracic kidneys
- Intrathoracic kidneys
- Ectopic thoracic kidney
An intrathoracic kidney is a very rare form of ectopic kidney. There has been no reported increased incidence of stones or infections as can be seen with other forms of ectopic kidneys. The adrenal glands are usually normal in location in most cases.
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Epidemiology
Thoracic ectopic kidney is rare with male predominance and incidence of 1/10,000 ectopic kidneys. Left-sided intrathoracic kidney is more common 3.
Clinical presentation
Intrathoracic kidneys are usually asymptomatic, however in symptomatic patients presenting symptoms include pneumonia, dyspnea, and cough 3.
Pathology
Renal ascent to thoracic cage is limited by the diaphragm. Diaphragmatic eventration or Bochdalek hernia can lead to an intrathoracic kidney 2.
Radiographic features
Plain radiograph
Appears as a well-defined lower thoracic opacity.
Ultrasound
The diagnosis can be easily confirmed by ultrasound. In most cases, the thoracic kidney rests on the diaphragm, so an acoustic window of the liver or spleen can be used to demonstrate it.
CT
Detects the associated herniated other abdominal organs, renal pedicle, and ureteric course. The renal vessels always have normal anatomical origin.
Differential diagnosis
References
- 1. Mensah YB, Forson C. Left thoracic kidney: a rare finding at intravenous urography. Ghana Med J. 2011;44 (1): 39-40. Free text at pubmed - Pubmed citation
- 2. Lee A Grant, Nyree Griffin. Grainger & Allison's Diagnostic Radiology Essentials. (2018) ISBN: 9780323568845
- 3. Pe aFD, Pe HnMnS, Pe ILA, Pe UYL, Pe. [Intrathoracic Ectopic Kidney]. (2020) Anales de pediatria (Barcelona, Spain : 2003). doi:10.1016/j.anpedi.2019.01.005 - Pubmed
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