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The signs and symptoms of hydronephrosis depend upon whether the obstruction is acute or chronic, partial or complete, unilateral or bilateral.Hydronephrosis that occurs acutely with sudden onset (as caused by a kidney stone) can cause intense pain in the flank area (between the hips and ribs) known as a renal colic.
An intravenous pyelogram is used to look for problems relating to the urinary tract. [5] These may include blockages or narrowing, such as due to kidney stones, cancer (such as renal cell carcinoma or transitional cell carcinoma), enlarged prostate glands, and anatomical variations, [5] such as a medullary sponge kidney. [6]
This is due to the transfer of referred pain signals from the lower thoracic splanchnic nerves to the lumbar splanchnic nerves as the stone passes down from the kidney or proximal ureter to the distal ureter. This pain, known as renal colic, is often described as one of the strongest pain sensations known. [15]
The renal pelvis is the location of several kinds of kidney cancer and is affected by infection in pyelonephritis. [citation needed] A large "staghorn" kidney stone may block all or part of the renal pelvis. The size of the renal pelvis plays a major role in the grading of hydronephrosis.
The pain arises when the stone moves from the kidney into the ureter, the small tube that transports urine from the kidney to the bladder. If the stone blocks the passing of urine in one (or both ...
A number of important medical conditions are caused by stones: [citation needed] Nephrolithiasis (kidney stones) Can cause hydronephrosis (swollen kidneys) and kidney failure; Can predispose to pyelonephritis (kidney infections) Can progress to urolithiasis; Urolithiasis (urinary bladder stones) Can progress to bladder outlet obstruction
The right kidney is often found more caudally and is slimmer than the left kidney, which may have a so-called dromedary hump due to its proximity to the spleen. The kidney is surrounded by a capsule separating the kidney from the echogenic perirenal fat, which is seen as a thin linear structure.
Treatment, depending on cause, may require prompt drainage of the bladder via catheterization, medical instrumentation, surgery (e.g., endoscopy, lithotripsy), hormonal therapy, or a combination of these modalities.