| Print Date: | May 20, 2013, 4:58 am |
| Title | Acute pyelonephritis |
| Text | Acute pyelonephritis can be a multifocal infection of both kidneys. The diagnosis is usually made on clinical grounds but imaging may be acquired in patients who fail to improve upon treatment, looking for potential complications.
The typical findings on CT are a striated pattern of alternating densities on enhanced scans, with wedge shaped areas of decreased parenchymal enhancement. Areas of high density may be seen on non enhanced exams and likely indicate hemorrhage. Also, there can be stranding and thickening of the perirenal fascia. The CT scan can be used as a tool to further characterize as focal (uni- or multifocal) diffuse, with or without renal enlargement or focal swelling and complicated (renal or extrarenal abscess, gas production, obstruction) or not. |
| References: | 1. Lee B. Talmer, et al. Acute Pyelonephritis: Can We Agree On Terminology? 297-304. Radiology 192: 297-305
2. Helms et al. Fundamentals of body CT. Second Edition. pp 253. Saunders 1991. |
| Contributor | Eduardo Escobar (Walter Reed Army Medical Center) |
| Peer Reviewer | Albert V Porambo (Civilian Medical Center) |
| Record Number | : 8307 |
| Created | 2007-07-09 16:04:52-04 |
| Modified | 2008-03-20 22:58:49.338691-04 |
| Category: | Infection, bacteria |
| Location: | Genitourinary |
| Sublocation: | Kidney |
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