Renal halo sign

Last revised by Henry Knipe on 2 Jan 2024

The renal halo sign has been described in both acute pancreatitis 1,2 and in renal tumors post radiofrequency ablation 3.

Radiographic features

Plain radiograph

On abdominal x-rays, the lateral margin of the kidney becomes visible due to differential x-ray absorption of perirenal fat and pancreatitis inflammatory exudate. The lateral margins of the kidneys are usually not visible 1.

CT/MRI

Post radiofrequency ablation, the renal halo sign has been described as macroscopic fat surrounding >50% of the ablated renal tumor, which in turn is surrounded a thin curvilinear soft tissue density 2.

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