Fact-sheet: Renal agenesis
Updated on 03/31/2020 at 9:22 AM
View all RADEOS cases associated with this fact-sheet
Definition
Complete absence of development of a kidney, associated with absence of the corresponding ureter.
Clinical features
No symptoms if the contralateral kidney is normal
Radiography
Not necessary
Ultrasound
Empty renal fossa (consider searching for an ectopic kidney, notably in the pelvis)
Absence of the renal artery
Hypertrophied adrenal gland
Compensatory contralateral renal hypertrophy
CT
Not necessary
MRI
Not necessary
Vascular intervention
Not necessary
Nuclear medicine
Not necessary
Management
Because of an increased risk of hypertension and/or proteinuria, patients with unilateral renal agenesis (URA) should undergo long-term follow-up.
Certain renal function parameters (blood pressure, estimated glomerular filtration rate, and proteinuria) should be monitored for functional assessment of the existing solitary kidney.
Differential diagnosis
The differential diagnosis includes extreme unilateral renal dysplasia (renal aplasia), multicystic dysplastic kidney with involution, and ectopic kidney.