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Pisani I, Giacosa R, Giuliotti S, Moretto D, Regolisti G, Cantarelli C, Vaglio A, Fiaccadori E, Manenti L. Ultrasound to address medullary sponge kidney: a retrospective study. BMC Nephrol 2020; 21:430. [PMID: 33046028 PMCID: PMC7552549 DOI: 10.1186/s12882-020-02084-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2020] [Accepted: 09/30/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Medullary sponge kidney (MSK) is a rare disease characterized by cystic dilatation of papillary collecting ducts. Intravenous urography is still considered the gold standard for diagnosis. We identified a cohort of patients from our outpatient clinic with established diagnosis of MSK to outline some ultrasonographic characteristics that may help establish a diagnosis. Methods We conducted a retrospective study of patients seen between January 1st 2009 and January 1st 2019 in our clinic. Out of 4321 patients, 18 had a diagnosis of MSK. We reviewed their clinical and family history, laboratory data and imaging studies. Specifically, we focused on ultrasound imaging. Results Patients were referred to our outpatient clinic because of renal impairment (44%), family history of nephropathy (17%), nephrolithiasis or an established diagnosis of MSK (39%). Seventy-two percent of patients presented with chronic kidney disease, 22% required hemodialysis. Urinary tract infections (44%), nephrolithiasis (33%), microscopic hematuria (50%) and proteinuria (44%) were reported. Seven patients underwent computed tomography; all of them received ultrasound. Ultrasound examination showed bilateral renal cysts, usually small and located in the renal medulla, and microcalcifications located in the medulla or within the cysts. Conclusion We identified a peculiar tetrad associated with MSK: 1) hypoechoic medullary areas, 2) hyperechoic spots, 3) microcystic dilatation of papillary zone, 4) multiple calcifications (linear, small stones or calcified intracystic sediment) in each papilla. The presence of this diagnostic tetrad, added to laboratory data and clinical history, could be helpful in the differential diagnosis to identify patients with MSK.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabella Pisani
- U.O. Nefrologia, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma, Dipartimento di Medicina e Chirurgia, Università di Parma, Via Gramsci 14, 43126, Parma, Italy.
| | - Roberto Giacosa
- Casa di Cura Città di Parma, Unit of Diagnostic, Contrast enhanced and Interventional Ultrasound, Parma, Italy
| | - Sara Giuliotti
- Struttura complessa di Radiologia, Azienda Ospedaliero-universitaria di Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Dario Moretto
- U.O. Nefrologia, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma, Dipartimento di Medicina e Chirurgia, Università di Parma, Via Gramsci 14, 43126, Parma, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Regolisti
- U.O. Nefrologia, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma, Dipartimento di Medicina e Chirurgia, Università di Parma, Via Gramsci 14, 43126, Parma, Italy
| | - Chiara Cantarelli
- U.O. Nefrologia, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma, Dipartimento di Medicina e Chirurgia, Università di Parma, Via Gramsci 14, 43126, Parma, Italy
| | - Augusto Vaglio
- Department of Biomedical Experimental and Clinical Sciences "Mario Serio", University of Firenze, Florence, Italy.,Nephrology and Dialysis Unit, Meyer Children's University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Enrico Fiaccadori
- U.O. Nefrologia, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma, Dipartimento di Medicina e Chirurgia, Università di Parma, Via Gramsci 14, 43126, Parma, Italy
| | - Lucio Manenti
- U.O. Nefrologia, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma, Dipartimento di Medicina e Chirurgia, Università di Parma, Via Gramsci 14, 43126, Parma, Italy
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