Multicystic dysplastic kidney

Case contributed by Jose Antonio Habana
Diagnosis almost certain

Presentation

Asymptomatic, with history of hydronephrosis on antenatal scans

Patient Data

Age: 10 years
Gender: Female
ultrasound

Ultrasound shows multiple varisized cysts completely replacing the left renal parenchyma, with some intervening echogenic tissue.

The right kidneys is normal.

Case Discussion

Multicystic dysplastic kidney is characteristically evidenced by multiple cysts replacing the entire kidney, without normal renal parenchyma. Echogenic dysplastic tissue may be present centrally.

Patients with unilateral MCDK must be examined thoroughly because up to one third of patients have additional genitourinary anomalies and up to 15% have extrarenal anomalies. In addition, the contralateral normal kidney must be monitored via ultrasound for adequate compensatory hypertrophy.

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