Milk of calcium in the inferior calyx of a hydronephrotic kidney in a tetraplegic patient - a diagnosis to be made before scheduling for extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy.
METHODS
A Case Report of renal milk of calcium in a tetraplegic subject.


OBJECTIVE
To increase the awareness of renal milk of calcium in spinal cord injury (SCI) physicians. Renal milk of calcium contains a colloidal suspension of calcium crystals. Since upright views of the kidneys are not performed in tetraplegic subjects, the renal milk of calcium may be misinterpreted as renal lithiasis by routine radiography taken in supine position.


METHODS
Regional Spinal Injuries Centre, Southport, England.


METHODS
In a 41-year-old male with traumatic tetraplegia, X-ray of abdomen in supine position showed multiple opacities in the region of the left kidney. These radio opaque shadows were interpreted as renal calculi. Subsequently, computed tomography (CT) of the kidneys was performed.


RESULTS
CT confirmed the presence of calculi in the mid-polar calyx. However, the density situated in the inferior calyx of the hydronephrotic left kidney exhibited a horizontal upper edge. This specific radiological finding as observed in the CT of kidneys, provided the clue to the presence of milk of calcium in the inferior calyx of the hydronephrotic left kidney.


CONCLUSIONS
As plain film of the abdomen in standing position is not performed in SCI patients, physicians caring for SCI patients should have a high index of suspicion for renal milk of calcium. Prompt diagnosis of renal milk of calcium will help to avoid unnecessary surgery, or extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy.
Vaidyanathan
S
S
Regional Spinal Injuries Centre, District General Hospital, Southport, Merseyside, UK.
Parry
R
R
Parsons
K F
KF
Singh
G
G
Soni
B M
BM
Sett
P
P
D000328:Adult; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D003460:Crystallization; D003560:Cysts / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D006869:Hydronephrosis / Q000150:complications*; D007669:Kidney Calculi / Q000175:diagnosis; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D011782:Quadriplegia / Q000150:complications*; D016683:Supine Position; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D002118:Calcium