Bilateral extrarenal calyces, renal pelvis and associated variations of renal vessels – A rare variation of the renal collecting system

Introduction Bilateral extrarenal calyces, which are characterized by calyces and renal pelvis that lie outside the renal parenchyma, associated with variations of renal vessels is one of the rare anomalies of the collecting system. This variant may be associated with other variations of the urogenital system, like bifid kidney, ectopic kidney, horseshoe kidney and renal dysplasia. This could be caused by embryological factors. Patients with such variations may be asymptomatic in some cases; in others, they can develop hydronephrosis. Awareness about details and topographic anatomy of various variations of the urogenital system may serve as a useful guide for both radiologists and vascular surgeons. It can help to prevent diagnostic errors, influence surgical and interventional procedures and avoid surgical complications. We present a case of bilateral extrarenal calyces and renal pelvis with multiple variations in the renal vessels that were present in a 55-year-old African male cadaver.