horsehoe kidney

transducer

3.5-5 MHz curvilinear transducer

horsehoe kidney

• most common renal fusion anomaly

• usually found incidentally

horseshoe kidney shape

• has a distinct “U” shape

where are the kidneys usually fused?

• RT and LT kidneys most often fused at the lower poles

complications

• kidney stones

• more vulnerable to injury from blunt force trauma (sits lower in abdomen)

• slightly higher risk for Wilms tumor

• UTIs

• hydronephrosis

• abdominal pain

treatment

• monitoring if asymptomatic

• surgery is usually not helpful

• kidney stones and UTIs are treated like how normal kidneys are treated

prognosis

• prognosis is excellent!

if horsehoe kidney is present, where are the kidneys most commonly fused?

• at the lower poles of both kidneys (isthmus)

what is the distinguishing characteristic of horseshoe kidney that differentiates it from other differential diagnoses?

• distinct “U” shape

what renal anomaly results in a single, lobulated mass formed by the fusion of both kidneys?

• pancake kidney

what is the most common treatment for horsehoe kidney?

• since it is most often asymptomatic, monitoring and regular evaluation are most common treatments

what type of tumor has a higher risk of developing in patients with a horseshoe kidney?

• wilms tumor

differential diagnosis

• pancake kidney (cake kidney/lump kidney)

  • RT and LT kidneys are fused tg as a whole forming a single, lobulated mass

  • usually located in the pelvis

• cross fused renal ectopic (CFRE)

  • one kidney crosses the midline and fuses to the other kidney