Bilateral accessory renal arteries with mild pelvi-ureteric junction (PUJ) obstruction

Case contributed by Ivelin Vaskov
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

No significant medical history.

Patient Data

Age: 30 years
Gender: Male

Accessory infrarenal artery on both sides arising from abdominal aorta at the level of L3 and L4 supplying the left and right inferior poles. Discrete pelviureteric junction (PUJ) obstruction on the left resulting in a low-grade hydronephrosis.

Case Discussion

Normally each kidney receives one renal artery. Accessory renal arteries can also exist with 10-15% being bilaterally and up to 4 renal arteries bellow 1% of all cases of extrarenal arteries. Accessory arteries usually arise from the aorta or iliac arteries anywhere from the level of T11 to the level of L4 in the images above showed at L3 - best demonstrated in the Volume-rendered images and the coronal MIP images.

In 40% of all cases, the accessory lower pole segment vessel is found and observed to compress the ureter, causing pelviureteric junction obstruction.

How to use cases

You can use Radiopaedia cases in a variety of ways to help you learn and teach.

Creating your own cases is easy.