title: Renal agenesis: an acquired condition?
abstract: Renal agenesis is a relatively common congenital anomaly, although its etiology is unknown. It is clear that some solitary kidneys are the result of postnatal involution of multicystic dysplastic kidneys. The authors present a series of nine neonates with abnormal prenatal renal ultrasound findings; subsequent postnatal investigations showed an absent kidney. Five children had a prenatal diagnosis of multicystic dysplastic kidney (MDK) and two of hydronephrosis. In five cases (56%) there was a contralateral renal unit anomaly. It appears that MDK, and occasionally hydronephrosis, can involute prenatally, producing the postnatal appearance of renal agenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, Southampton General Hospital, Hampshire, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hitchcock
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Burge
mesh_terms: D000013:Congenital Abnormalities / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D006869:Hydronephrosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007668:Kidney / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D007690:Polycystic Kidney Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011247:Pregnancy; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal