Lipiduria presenting following right hemicolectomy: A case presentation and brief review of the literature

CT features of feline lipiduria and renal cortical lipid deposition

Objectives

The aims of this study were to document the presence and prevalence of feline lipiduria and renal lipid deposition on CT, and to search for associations between the presence of lipiduria and sex, urinary tract abnormalities and urolithiasis.

Methods

The CT examinations of 252 cats were reviewed for the presence of an antigravitational hypodense bubble in the urinary bladder with density values between −180 Hounsfield units (HU) and −20 HU. To identify associations between lipiduria and sex, urinary tract abnormalities and urolithiasis, Fisher’s exact test was used. Renal cortical density measurement was performed in all cats. The Mann−Whitney test was performed to compare renal cortical density between lipiduric and unaffected cats.

Results

A total of 27 domestic cats (10.7%) had CT evidence of lipiduria. Lipiduric cats had a significantly lower renal cortical density than unaffected cats (P <0.01). Male neutered cats had a significantly higher frequency of lipiduria and lower renal cortical density compared with female neutered cats (P <0.01). There was no significant difference between the groups regarding renal, ureteral or urethral abnormalities.

Conclusions and relevance

Lipiduria is a common physiological phenomenon in cats that can be detected on routine CT examinations. Decreased renal cortical density is associated with lipiduria. This may aid in the diagnosis of feline lipiduria and help to differentiate its presence from other pathological depositions and excretions.

The combined uro-radiological "Rendezvous" procedure, and an unusual CT and cystoscopic finding

The ureteric "rendezvous" procedure is an interventional procedure involving both uro-radiological and cystoscopic techniques to manage complex ureteric stenoses or fistulae. We present a case in which this procedure was utilised, with an unusual intra-procedural finding. Macroscopic visualisation of lipids within the urinary tract is an unusual finding at CT, and rarely seen at cystoscopy. The aetiology of lipiduria is varied; it may indicate the presence of unrecognised pathology, occur as a sequelae of trauma, or arise secondary to intervention. Understanding the patient's history is vital to determining the likely aetiology and significance of such a finding.

Chyluria in non-filarial endemic areas: an internist's perspective

A 60-year-old Chinese woman presented with intermittent, painless, gross haematuria and subsequently complained of persistent milky urine. The diagnosis of chyluria was confirmed after cystoscopy demonstrated ureteric milky fluid discharge which had elevated levels of triglycerides. The patient did not travel to filarial endemic areas and her serum circulating filarial antigen was negative. Intravenous pyelography with CT of the abdomen did not reveal any masses or obstruction. It was determined that her chyluria was non-parasitic in origin and her symptoms improved with a low fat, high-protein diet. However, her chyluria recurred 1 year later, resulting in hypoalbuminaemia and proteinuria. Her symptoms resolved and her albumin levels normalised with adherence to dietary modifications.