Complaints of abdominal pain – this is always a big problem for the doctor, because there are a huge number of reasons that can cause pain in this part of the body. One of them – this is a kidney dystopia that is difficult to diagnose, since an abnormally located kidney can be significantly displaced from its traditional place and look like tumors, cysts, and even an ectopic pregnancy. Kidney dystopia refers to congenital pathologies, its surgical relocation to the correct place is practically not performed due to the extreme complexity of the operation and the unpredictability of the result. Early detection of pathology allows you to regularly monitor the condition of the abnormal kidney and prevent complications associated with its unusual location in time.
Why does kidney dystopia happen and how to identify pathology
Kidney dystopia occurs in some form and degree in approximately one child in 800 newborns. The reason for the development of such a pathology is considered to be an external adverse effect on the body of a pregnant woman, due to which, in the process of embryogenesis, the kidney, which was originally formed in the pelvic area, does not move to a normal anatomical position to the lumbar region, but occupies a different position. Unlike nephroptosis, a kidney with dystopia is devoid of mobility, it can remain in the pelvic region, rise to the iliac zone, and even be located at chest level.
Normally, the kidney is fixed in the region of the 1st lumbar vertebra, where the renal arteries depart from the aortic trunk. With kidney dystopia, these arteries can depart in completely different places – the kidney is attached there:
- lumbar position – the renal arteries are located approximately at the level of the III lumbar vertebra, on palpation it resembles nephroptosis or a tumor, since it is slightly turned forward by the pelvis;
- iliac location – the kidney is located in the iliac fossa and is connected to the aortic trunk by an abnormal number of renal arteries, on palpation it is very similar to an ovarian cyst;
- pelvic location – the kidney is between the rectum and the uterus – in women or the bladder in men, has a short ureter and is connected by arteries to the internal iliac artery, often mistaken for an ectopic pregnancy;
- thoracic location – the renal arteries are located at the level of the XII thoracic vertebra, and the kidney is displaced into the chest cavity, has a very long ureter and extended vessels, is often diagnosed as encysted pleurisy, abscess, tumor formation of the lung.
The right kidney is displaced more often than the left one, there is a cross dystopia of the kidneys, in which they can even merge, the migration of the kidney to the opposite side is possible.
What signs can suggest kidney dystopia
Kidney dystopia may not be of concern to the patient at all. Usually the reason for going to the doctor is pain – sometimes minor, and sometimes quite strong. Pain usually occurs due to the fact that when the kidney is abnormally located, neighboring organs put pressure on it, irritating the nerve plexuses. So, for example, with the thoracic position of the kidney, it can cause pain behind the sternum when eating, with an iliac location – women complain of painful periods. The pelvic location in kidney dystopia is often detected during the development of pregnancy, when the growing uterus presses on the kidney and displaces it even more. In this case, severe toxicosis occurs, the course of pregnancy may be at risk.
Sometimes, kidney dystopia is detected by chance during some kind of surgical intervention, and there is a high risk of accidentally damaging the abnormally located organ.
What is the danger of kidney dystopia and how to treat it
Kidney dystopia provokes its increased susceptibility to various infectious diseases, since the abnormally located kidney has additional vessels, urine outflow is not often difficult for it. A dystopic kidney is prone to hydronephrosis, pyelonephritis, and in case of narrowing of the renal vessels – causes the development of arterial hypertension, regardless of the age of the patient. If there is a cross dystopia, the development of chronic renal failure is likely.
Treatment of kidney dystopia is usually associated with the relief of the developed infectious process or the removal of formed kidney stones. Early detection of this pathology allows monitoring and preventing the development of such complications that can lead to kidney death.
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