title: Failure of sonography to visualize a kidney affected by emphysematous pyelonephritis.
abstract: We describe a diabetic patient who presented with acute renal failure as a result of acute bilateral emphysematous pyelonephritis. Initially, both an abdominal X-ray examination and a renal sonogram were unremarkable. Two days later, however, the previously visualized right kidney could not be demonstrated again by a repeat renal sonogram. A computed tomogram and a repeat abdominal X-ray study confirmed the diagnosis of emphysematous pyelonephritis. To our knowledge this is one of the few described cases of emphysematous pyelonephritis distinguished by a sonogram's inability to visualize a kidney because of interference with imaging by the gas produced by the bacteria that are responsible for the pyelonephritic infection.
authors.affiliation: Nephrology Section, Hines VA/Loyola University Medical Center, Hines; Illinois; Loyola University Medical Center, Department of Nephrology, 2160 First Avenue, Bldg 201, Rm 3601, Maywood, IL 60153, USA.
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authors.lastname: Popli
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authors.lastname: Vaseemuddin
authors.forename: Todd S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Ing
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