Crossed Renal Ectopia without Fusion: a Multidetector Computed Tomography Study

Address for Correspondence: C.S. Ramesh Babu, Associate Professor of Anatomy, Muzaffarnagar Medical College, N.H.-58, Opp. Begrajpur Industrial Area, Muzaffarnagar-251203 (U.P), India. Mobile: +91-9897249202 E-Mail: [email protected] Background: Congenital positional, rotational and fusion anomalies of the kidney are frequently encountered. Crossed renal ectopia is a condition in which the kidney is located on the side contralateral to its ureteral insertion into the urinary bladder. Crossed renal ectopia without fusion is a very rare anomaly sporadically reported in the literature. We have attempted to analyse such renal anomalies in a large series of patients. Materials & Methods: Contrast enhanced multidetector computed tomographic scans of 960 patients (491 males and 469 females, age range 4-90 years) were reviewed . Observations: Crossed renal ectopia without fusion was detected in three patients (0.31%; 1 in 320 cases). All three patients were males and leftto-right renal ectopia was noted in two cases and right-to-left ectopia in one case, in whom the ectopic right kidney was exhibiting multicystic dysplasia. An interesting observation was vascularisation of crossed ectopic unfused left kidneys by branches arising from the right common iliac artery. Conclusion: Crossed renal ectopia without fusion is an extremely rare anomaly and may remain asymptomatic without being detected. Multidetector computed tomography angiography is an excellent imaging modality to detect renal positional and rotational anomalies. To the best of our knowledge the present study is the first study to detect renal anomalies in a large series of cases.