Medullary sponge kidney and staghorn calculi.
We describe a 65-year-old female with bilateral staghorn calculi who presented with a Proteus mirabilis perinephric abscess secondary to a ruptured lower pole hydrocalyx. Radiologic evidence was consistent with underlying medullary sponge kidney (MSK) disease. Despite expectations to the contrary, MSK, a disease notable for many risk factors capable of precipitating staghorn disease, is rarely associated with coexistent staghorn calculi. A discussion of the concurrent risk factors and a possible hypothesis regarding the lack of coexistence follows.
Department of Medicine, Medical College of Virginia, MCV Station, Richmond, VA.
J R
JR
Nunley
D A
DA
Sica
V
V
Smith
D000038:Abscess / Q000209:etiology*; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007669:Kidney Calculi / Q000209:etiology*; D007679:Kidney Medulla / Q000473:pathology*; D007691:Medullary Sponge Kidney / Q000150:complications*; D011512:Proteus Infections / Q000209:etiology*; D011513:Proteus mirabilis; D012187:Retroperitoneal Space