Perirenal fluid in renal parenchymal medical disease ('floating kidney'): clinical significance and sonographic grading.
OBJECTIVE
To study the clinical significance and radiologic features of perirenal fluid in patients with renal parenchymal disease.


METHODS
During the previous 5 years, nine patients were found to have perirenal fluid on sonography associated with renal parenchymal medical disease. The clinical, radiological, histopathological and laboratory data were analysed.


RESULTS
The perirenal fluid is a spontaneous subcapsular transudate in patients suffering from a nephropathy with a sodium retention state, with or without renal failure. Three sonographic patterns of perirenal fluid were observed: grade 1 is a thin layer of perirenal fluid; grade 2 is a moderate amount of perirenal fluid collection with indentations of the renal parenchyma and strands in the fluid, grade 3 is a large fluid collection surrounding the kidney.


CONCLUSIONS
The perirenal fluid represents a sign of sodium retention state and oedema in patients with intrinsic renal parenchymal medical disease which may be caused by several nephropathies.
Haddad
M C
MC
Department of Diagnostic Radiology, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon. rad@aub.edu.lb
Medawar
W A
WA
Hawary
M M
MM
Khoury
N J
NJ
Ammouri
N F
NF
Shabb
N S
NS
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D003287:Contrast Media; D005122:Exudates and Transudates / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009404:Nephrotic Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011379:Prognosis; D012082:Renal Veins / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods; D018616:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex / Q000379:methods; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology
D003287:Contrast Media