Congenital solitary kidney with three renal arteries. An MDCT angiographyc study

Abstract

Congenital solitay kidney (CSK) is one of the most rare renal malformations. CSK has usually a single renal artery. The MDCT angiography of 1700 clinical cases revealed 4 with CSK. Among these only one case with right CSK (male) presented besides the main renal artery also two additional arteries. The main renal artery with origin in the abdominal part of aorta (APA) at the level of L1‐L2 intervertebral disc, with a diameter at origin of 0.53cm, a length of 3.51cm gives rise at three segmentat arteries (SA) (superior, anterior‐superior and posterior superior). The first additional artery originated in the APA at the level of 1/3 lower of L2 vertebra, with a diameter at origin of 0.34cm, and a length of 3.70cm gives rise to two SA (anterior‐inferior and inferior). The second additional renal artery originated in the APA at the level of 1/3 lower of L3 vertebra, with a diameter at origin of 0.32cm and a length of 4.77cm gives rise to a single SA (posterior‐inferior). This association of CSK with the presence of the additional renal arteries involves two distinctive embryologic mechanisms: non‐development of the nephrogenic tissue in the left part, with the persistence of the mesonephric arteries in the right. The knowlwdge of these aspects is important when performing partial kidney resections. (Supported by Grant CNMP 42097/2008).