Paediatric Imaging

Medullary sponge kidney

congenital mild dilatation of the collecting tubules in the medullary zone of the kidney (Fig.1). Renal function is normal, but with increasing age, renal stone formation and infection are complications. On radiographs, there is nephrocalcinosis, with the calcification typically seen radially aligned around the renal pelvis. The kidneys are mildly enlarged and have increased echoes in the renal medulla. See renal cystic disease

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Fig.1

Intravenous urography in a child showing enlarged kidneys with streaky opacity in the renal papillae, typical of medullary sponge kidneys. In a young child this cannot be differentiated radiologically from a mild expression of infantile polycystic kidneys.
Medullary sponge kidney, Fig.1