Perirenal Fluid in Renal Parenchymal Medical Disease (‘Floating Kidney’): Clinical Significance and Sonographic Grading

• Published in: Clinical radiology Vol. 56; no. 12; pp. 979 - 983
• Main Authors: Haddad, Maurice C., Medawar, Walid A., Hawary, Mahmoud M., Khoury, Nabil J., Ammouri, Nabil F., Shabb, Nina S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier Ltd 01-12-2001; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adult; Age Factors; Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Child; Contrast Media; Exudates and Transudates - diagnostic imaging; Female; Humans; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Kidney Diseases - diagnostic imaging; kidney diseases, kidney US, kidney failure; Magnetic Resonance Imaging - methods; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Nephrotic Syndrome - complications; Nephrotic Syndrome - diagnostic imaging; Prognosis; Renal Veins - diagnostic imaging; Retrospective Studies; Tomography, X-Ray Computed - methods; Tropical medicine; Ultrasonic investigative techniques; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex - methods; Urinary system; Venous Thrombosis - diagnostic imaging; Venous Thrombosis - etiology; Lebanon; Asia; kidney diseases, kidney US, kidney failure; Sonography; Kidney disease; Human; Urinary system disease; Effusion; Echography; Renal failure; Sodium ion; Perirenal; Exploration; Retention
• ISSN: 0009-9260; 1365-229X
• DOI: 10.1053/crad.2001.0631

AIM: To study the clinical significance and radiologic features of perirenal fluid in patients with renal parenchymal disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: During the previous 5 years, nine patients were found to have perirenal fluid on sonography associated with renal parenchymal medical disease. The clinical, radiological, histopathological and laboratory data were analysed. RESULTS: The perirenal fluid is a spontaneous subcapsular transudate in patients suffering from a nephropathy with a sodium retention state, with or without renal failure. Three sonographic patterns of perirenal fluid were observed: grade 1 is a thin layer of perirenal fluid; grade 2 is a moderate amount of perirenal fluid collection with indentations of the renal parenchyma and strands in the fluid, grade 3 is a large fluid collection surrounding the kidney. CONCLUSION: The perirenal fluid represents a sign of sodium retention state and oedema in patients with intrinsic renal parenchymal medical disease which may be caused by several nephropathies. Haddad, M. C.et al. (2001). Clinical Radiology56, 979–983.