Why is a wedge infarct in the kidney?

Comment: Renal infarcts usually appear as well-demarcated, wedge-shaped or triangular areas of coagulative necrosis that extend from the capsular surface into the medulla. The characteristic shape results from the kidney’s unique vascular supply.

What is the typical shape of an infarct within the kidney?

Renal infarcts are pyramidal or wedge-shaped lesions with the base at the cortical surface and the apex pointing to the medullary origin of the arterial supply.

How serious is a renal infarct?

Renal infarction is an underdiagnosed and under-reported phenomenon, and needs to be diagnosed rapidly to prevent permanent loss of renal function. Renal infarction should be considered in the initial differential diagnosis of nephrolithiasis and pyelonephritis.

What is infarction of kidney?

Renal infarction results from interruption of the normal blood supply to part of, or to the whole kidney. The main imaging differential diagnosis includes pyelonephritis and renal tumors.

How painful is a kidney infarction?

Small kidney infarcts can be painless and some patients present simply with fatigue. Positive findings on examination include fever, abdominal tenderness, and new-onset hypertension.

Can renal infarction cause death?

Results: Fifty-seven (56.4%) patients with renal infarction received anti-coagulant therapy during the study period. The all- cause mortality rate was 7.56 per 100 patient-years.

What causes a kidney infarction?

The two major causes of renal infarction are thromboemboli and in situ thrombosis. Thromboemboli usually originate from a thrombus in the heart or aorta, and in situ thrombosis is usually due to an underlying hypercoagulable condition or injury to or dissection of a renal artery.

What does a kidney infarction feel like?

Flank pain, persistent and often accompanied by nausea or vomiting, appears to be the most common initial symptom. Other presenting complaints include pain in the abdomen, back or chest. Small kidney infarcts can be painless and some patients present simply with fatigue.

What is the most common cause of renal infarction?

Is a renal infarction painful?

Pain is present in 86% to 100% of cases. Patients can experience nausea, vomiting, and fever,6,8 and may be hypertensive. Given the vague presentation, renal infarction is often initially misdiagnosed3,4,6 and delayed diagnosis may have prognostic implications.

Is renal infarction reversible?

Despite aggressive treatment such as thrombolysis, renal infarction is usually irreversible and can lead to repeat thromboembolic events, mild to severe renal impairment and even death.

Can u live with only one kidney?

There may also be a chance of having high blood pressure later in life. However, the loss in kidney function is usually very mild, and life span is normal. Most people with one kidney live healthy, normal lives with few problems. In other words, one healthy kidney can work as well as two.

Why are wedge-shaped lesions a sign of infarction?

Wedge-shaped lesions are suggestive of infarction. Size of a tumor The size of a tumor is regarded as the most important predictor of malignancy and aggressive histologic grade (1). The risk of metastatic disease depends on the size of the tumor.

How to diagnose renal infarct in radiology?

Renal Infarct. Two contrast-enhanced axial CT images demonstrate a wedge-shaped non-enhancing lesion in the right kidney with no perinephric inflammatory stranding (white arrows). See the 22 Must See Imaging Diagnoses first identified by the Alliance for Medical Student Educators in Radiology. 22 Must Sees…

How are parenchymal defects demonstrated in renal infarction?

One or more focal, wedge-shaped parenchymal defects that involve both the cortex and medulla and extend to the capsular surface are demonstrated 1. In cases where the main renal artery is occluded, then the entire kidney fails to enhance 2.

What are the signs and symptoms of kidney cancer?

And currently there are no routine tests used to screen for kidney cancer in the absence of symptoms. In the later stages, kidney cancer signs and symptoms may include: Blood in your urine, which may appear pink, red or cola colored. Pain in your back or side that doesn’t go away. Loss of appetite.