Imaging of infantile polycystic kidney disease with some rare association.

Abstract

Seventeen patients, age 1 day to 6 years with infantile polycystic kidney disease were evaluated with ultrasound and other imaging techniques. Most patients showed bilaterally enlarged kidneys with hyperechoic renal parenchyma, which had poor differentiation in outlines as well as between renal sinus, cortex and medulla. Cysts of various sizes were also identified in the kidneys. However, a third of these cases showed well-defined renal outlines, normal echogenic cortical rim, whilst dilated renal collecting systems were seen in another third of the cases. Twelve cases showed hepatomegaly. Few rare findings such as liver cysts, associated Meckel syndrome, renal stone, bilateral vesicoureteric reflux and renal calcification were also noted. This study confirms the diagnostic value of sonography and intravenous pyelography examination. However, the noninvasiveness and the opportunity for repeat examination in antenatal and postnatal life makes sonography the ideal investigative modality.