Nephrosclerosis

Benign nephrosclerosis is a slow deterioration of the renal arteries. First the inner layer of the walls of smaller vessels thickens, and gradually this thickening spreads to the whole wall, sometimes closing the central channel of the vessel. Fat is then deposited in the degenerated wall tissue. The large arteries gain an excess of elastic tissue, which can result in blockage of their channels. Both of these conditions cause the blood supply to vital areas of the kidney to be blocked, and tissue deterioration follows. Imaging findings are nonspecific and show small kidneys. For a description of malignant nephrosclerosis, see malignant hypertension renal manifestation

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