title: [The contribution of nephro-urotomography in the diagnosis of unilateral non-functioning kidney in the adult (author's transl)].
abstract: The aetiological diagnosis of a unilateral nonfunctioning kidney is achieved by angiographic or retrograde techniques. Pyelography indicates only that organ is non-functioning. 71 patients were explored by nephro-urotomography carried out using high doses of contrast medium (2 cm3/kg) with rapid injection (10cm3/sec.) and repeated tomographic sections taken during the first minute after injection. These tomographic sections, three in number, made it possible to study the three phases of the nephrogram: cortical nephrography, cortico-medullary nephrography and tubular nephrography. The aim of this study was to assess the contribution of this technique in the aetiological diagnosis of a unilateral non-functioning kidney. In the majority of cases it is possible to suspect the vascular or neoplasic origin of the non-functioning kidney. Obstructive non-functioning kidneys have two distinct nephrographic appearances. Pelvic and retroperitoneal obstructions are visualised chiefly during the phase of cortical nephrography, which shows marked parenchymatous atrophy with the presence of rounded intrarenal lacunae. By contrast, obstruction secondary to pyelo-ureteral junction syndrome results in total destruction of the parenchyma. The phenomenon of total corporeal opacification plays a major role in the visualisation of the fibrous speta which form the limits of the pseudocystic pockets. In these patients, the contribution of study of early nephrograms is less evident. Bacillary non-functioning kidneys have an analogous appearance characterised by the particular frequency of abnormal opacities, calcified ormastic. Thus the aetiological diagnosis of a unilateral nonfunctioning kidney may be obtained in the majority of cases. This permits more judicious selection of those cases requiring angiography or retrograde exploration necessary to pre-operative assessment.
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D014056:Tomography, X-Ray
vernacular_title: Apport de la néphro-urotomographie au diagnostic des mutités rénales unilatérales de l'adulte