Pelvic kidney

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Pelvic kidney
Specialty Nephrology

A pelvic kidney, also known as an ectopic kidney, is a normal kidney located in the pelvis, instead of the abdomen. This occurs when a kidney does not ascend from its original location in the pelvis to its final location during prenatal development. They usually present no symptoms, but can increase risk of certain illnesses and healthcare problems.

Contents

Signs and symptoms

Often, a person with a pelvic kidney will go through their whole life not even knowing they have a pelvic kidney.

While symptoms are uncommon, some people with a pelvic kidney may experience abdominal or back pain, fever, hematuria, high blood pressure, or a burning sensation while urinating. [1]

Complications

Typically, the kidney functions normally despite being in the wrong location. [2] However, it can develop complications. [3] A pelvic kidney can make it more difficult to diagnose kidney infections and kidney cancer. [4] The renal artery and the renal vein may be stretched if they remain attached to the normal locations on the abdominal aorta and the inferior vena cava, which can lead to illness. [4]

A pelvic kidney may increase one's risk of developing urinary tract infections and kidney stones. The condition may also result in hydronephrosis. Children with a pelvic kidney may need to wear certain protective equipment while playing sports to prevent injuries. [1]

Causes

In the development of the human embryo, the metanephric kidneys fail to ascend and usually remain at the brim of the pelvis. This clinical scenario may present no signs or symptoms and the kidneys may function normally. It is associated at times with Müllerian dysgenesis.[ citation needed ]

Diagnosis

A pelvic kidney is discovered on newborn kidney ultrasound screening. It may also be detected if complications arise later in life for this or a completely different reason, and during investigations.[ citation needed ]

Epidemiology

Between 1 in 2,200 and 1 in 3,000 people may have a pelvic kidney. [2]

History

A pelvic kidney is also known as an ectopic kidney. [4]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pelvic inflammatory disease</span> Infection of uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries or the inner surface of pelvis

Pelvic inflammatory disease, also known as pelvic inflammatory disorder (PID), is an infection of the upper part of the female reproductive system, namely the uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries, and inside of the pelvis. Often, there may be no symptoms. Signs and symptoms, when present, may include lower abdominal pain, vaginal discharge, fever, burning with urination, pain with sex, bleeding after sex, or irregular menstruation. Untreated PID can result in long-term complications including infertility, ectopic pregnancy, chronic pelvic pain, and cancer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ectopic pregnancy</span> Female reproductive system health issue

Ectopic pregnancy is a complication of pregnancy in which the embryo attaches outside the uterus. Signs and symptoms classically include abdominal pain and vaginal bleeding, but fewer than 50 percent of affected women have both of these symptoms. The pain may be described as sharp, dull, or crampy. Pain may also spread to the shoulder if bleeding into the abdomen has occurred. Severe bleeding may result in a fast heart rate, fainting, or shock. With very rare exceptions, the fetus is unable to survive.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ureter</span> Tubes used in the urinary system in most animals

The ureters are tubes made of smooth muscle that propel urine from the kidneys to the urinary bladder. In a human adult, the ureters are usually 20–30 cm (8–12 in) long and around 3–4 mm (0.12–0.16 in) in diameter. The ureter is lined by urothelial cells, a type of transitional epithelium, and has an additional smooth muscle layer that assists with peristalsis in its lowest third.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kidney failure</span> Disease where the kidneys fail to adequately filter waste products from the blood

Kidney failure, also known as end-stage kidney disease, is a medical condition in which the kidneys can no longer adequately filter waste products from the blood, functioning at less than 15% of normal levels. Kidney failure is classified as either acute kidney failure, which develops rapidly and may resolve; and chronic kidney failure, which develops slowly and can often be irreversible. Symptoms may include leg swelling, feeling tired, vomiting, loss of appetite, and confusion. Complications of acute and chronic failure include uremia, hyperkalaemia, and volume overload. Complications of chronic failure also include heart disease, high blood pressure, and anaemia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kidney cancer</span> Medical condition

Kidney cancer, also known as renal cancer, is a group of cancers that starts in the kidney. Symptoms may include blood in the urine, lump in the abdomen, or back pain. Fever, weight loss, and tiredness may also occur. Complications can include spread to the lungs or brain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Uremia</span> Type of kidney disease, urea in the blood

Uremia is the term for high levels of urea in the blood. Urea is one of the primary components of urine. It can be defined as an excess in the blood of amino acid and protein metabolism end products, such as urea and creatinine, which would be normally excreted in the urine. Uremic syndrome can be defined as the terminal clinical manifestation of kidney failure. It is the signs, symptoms and results from laboratory tests which result from inadequate excretory, regulatory, and endocrine function of the kidneys. Both uremia and uremic syndrome have been used interchangeably to denote a very high plasma urea concentration that is the result of renal failure. The former denotation will be used for the rest of the article.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abdominal pain</span> Stomach aches

Abdominal pain, also known as a stomach ache, Is a symptom associated with both non-serious and serious medical issues. Since the abdomen contains most of the body's vital organs, it can be an indicator of a wide variety of diseases. Given that, approaching the examination of a person and planning of a differential diagnosis is extremely important.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Renal pelvis</span> Dilated part of the ureter in the kidney

The renal pelvis or pelvis of the kidney is the funnel-like dilated part of the ureter in the kidney. It is formed by the convergence of the major calyces, acting as a funnel for urine flowing from the major calyces to the ureter. It has a mucous membrane and is covered with transitional epithelium and an underlying lamina propria of loose-to-dense connective tissue.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pyelonephritis</span> Medical condition

Pyelonephritis is inflammation of the kidney, typically due to a bacterial infection. Symptoms most often include fever and flank tenderness. Other symptoms may include nausea, burning with urination, and frequent urination. Complications may include pus around the kidney, sepsis, or kidney failure.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hydronephrosis</span> Medical condition

Hydronephrosis describes hydrostatic dilation of the renal pelvis and calyces as a result of obstruction to urine flow downstream. Alternatively, hydroureter describes the dilation of the ureter, and hydronephroureter describes the dilation of the entire upper urinary tract.

Horseshoe kidney, also known as ren arcuatus, renal fusion or super kidney, is a congenital disorder affecting about 1 in 500 people that is more common in men, often asymptomatic, and usually diagnosed incidentally. In this disorder, the patient's kidneys fuse to form a horseshoe-shape during development in the womb. The fused part is the isthmus of the horseshoe kidney. The abnormal anatomy can affect kidney drainage resulting in increased frequency of kidney stones and urinary tract infections as well as increase risk of certain renal cancers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Complications of pregnancy</span> Medical condition

Complications of pregnancy are health problems that are related to, or arise during pregnancy. Complications that occur primarily during childbirth are termed obstetric labor complications, and problems that occur primarily after childbirth are termed puerperal disorders. While some complications improve or are fully resolved after pregnancy, some may lead to lasting effects, morbidity, or in the most severe cases, maternal or fetal mortality.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hydrosalpinx</span> Medical condition

A hydrosalpinx is a condition that occurs when a fallopian tube is blocked and fills with serous or clear fluid near the ovary. The blocked tube may become substantially distended giving the tube a characteristic sausage-like or retort-like shape. The condition is often bilateral and the affected tubes may reach several centimeters in diameter. The blocked tubes cause infertility. A fallopian tube filled with blood is a hematosalpinx, and with pus a pyosalpinx.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ectopic kidney</span> Medical condition

Ectopic kidney describes a kidney that is not located in its usual position. It results from the kidney failing to ascend from its origin in the true pelvis or from a superiorly ascended kidney located in the thorax.

Pyelogram is a form of imaging of the renal pelvis and ureter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ureterostomy</span>

A ureterostomy is the creation of a stoma for a ureter or kidney.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ovarian vein syndrome</span> Medical condition

Ovarian vein syndrome is a rare condition in which a dilated ovarian vein compresses the ureter. This causes chronic or colicky abdominal pain, back pain and/or pelvic pain. The pain can worsen on lying down or between ovulation and menstruation. There can also be an increased tendency towards urinary tract infection or pyelonephritis. The right ovarian vein is most commonly involved, although the disease can be left-sided or affect both sides. It is currently classified as a form of pelvic congestion syndrome.

Urologic diseases or conditions include urinary tract infections, kidney stones, bladder control problems, and prostate problems, among others. Some urologic conditions do not affect a person for that long and some are lifetime conditions. Kidney diseases are normally investigated and treated by nephrologists, while the specialty of urology deals with problems in the other organs. Gynecologists may deal with problems of incontinence in women.

Bladder outlet obstruction occurs when urine is unable to flow from the kidneys through the ureters and out of the bladder through the urethra. Decreased flow of urine leads to swelling of the urinary tract, called hydronephrosis. This process of decreased flow of urine through the urinary tract can begin as early as during intrauterine life and it prevents normal development of fetal kidneys and fetal urine. Low levels of fetal urine leads to low amniotic fluid levels and incomplete lung maturation. Older children and adults can also experience bladder outlet obstruction; however, this process is usually reversible and isn't associated with as many poor outcomes as in infants with congenital bladder outlet obstruction.

Pelvic abscess is a collection of pus in the pelvis, typically occurring following lower abdominal surgical procedures, or as a complication of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), appendicitis, or lower genital tract infections. Signs and symptoms include a high fever, pelvic mass, vaginal bleeding or discharge, and lower abdominal pain. It can lead to sepsis and death.

References

  1. 1 2 "Pelvic kidney: What to know". Medical News Today. 29 September 2022. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  2. 1 2 Cinman, Nadya M.; Okeke, Zeph; Smith, Arthur D. (August 2007). "Pelvic kidney: associated diseases and treatment". Journal of Endourology. 21 (8): 836–842. doi:10.1089/end.2007.9945. ISSN   0892-7790. PMID   17867938.
  3. "Institute for Fetal Health - Fetal pelvic kidney - Children's Memorial Hospital". Archived from the original on December 1, 2007. Retrieved September 6, 2007.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  4. 1 2 3 Reid, Robin; Roberts, Fiona; MacDuff, Elaine, eds. (2011-01-01), "Chapter 12 - Genitourinary System", Pathology Illustrated (Seventh Edition), Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone, pp. 445–491, doi:10.1016/B978-0-7020-3376-6.50016-9, ISBN   978-0-7020-3376-6 , retrieved 2021-01-30