Pelvic Kidney: A Review of the Literature.

Cureus. 2018 Jun 9;10(6):e2775. doi: 10.7759/cureus.2775.

Eid S, Iwanaga J, Loukas M, Oskouian RJ, Tubbs RS.

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Abstract

Kidney development is a complex process that begins during the sixth to eighth weeks of life. Failure of ascent of the kidney will cause the kidney to remain in the pelvis i.e., pelvic kidney. Here, we review this entity in detail and illustrate such embryological derailment. In most cases, a pelvic kidney is an incidental finding and is usually asymptomatic. Anatomic variations of the renal vasculature have been reported in cases of pelvic kidneys and these are highlighted in this review. Clinicians who treat patients for renal or pelvic disease or interpret images of the pelvis should be well informed of the anatomy and embryology of the pelvic kidney.

KEYWORDS:

anatomic variation; anatomy; ectopic kidney; horseshoe kidney; pelvic kidney

Figure 1

Sagittal T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the spine noting a pelvic kidney (arrow)

This variant was found incidentally during the evaluation of a cutaneous flat capillary hemangioma, over the midline lumbar spine, to rule out occult spinal dysraphism.

The patient had no history of pelvic pain or renal dysfunction.

Figure 2

Drawing of a case of a pelvic kidney (modified from Brown M; 1894)