title: Dense renal papillae: a quantitative study using computed tomography.
abstract: The attenuation of the renal papillae has been compared with that of the cortex/outer medulla (COM) in 100 consecutive patients undergoing abdominal computed tomography (CT). In most patients (73%) there were areas within the papillae measuring more than 5 Hounsfield units (HU) higher than the COM. In 11% of the patients this increase in papillary attenuation was even more marked (15 or more HU). Increased papillary attenuation was most marked in patients with newly diagnosed widespread malignancy; it was also common in thin patients and in those who were in-patients. The region of the papilla has been shown to have a slightly higher CT attenuation than the rest of the renal parenchyma and such density seems especially noticeable in sick patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Cambridge, UK.
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Dixon
authors.forename: N S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Ashford
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sherwood
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007679:Kidney Medulla / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed