Hydronephrosis

Q: What radiographic findings support the diagnosis of chronic renal failure in this 9-year-old cat? show answer

A: The radiographic findings that support the diagnosis of chronic renal failure in this cat include the small size of the left kidney with an irregular border, evidence of central calculi in the pelvis, and the enlarged right kidney with a flattened cranial pole. These changes, along with the presence of calculi, suggest chronic renal parenchymal disease with secondary effects on kidney structure and function.

Q: Given the findings from both the abdominal x-rays and the ultrasound imaging, what is the significance of the enlarged right kidney with marked pelvic dilation and poorly defined architecture? show answer

A: The ultrasound imaging findings of an enlarged right kidney with marked pelvic dilation and poorly defined architecture likely indicate a combination of hydronephrosis and compensatory hypertrophy. Hydronephrosis, in this case, is the result of the right ureteral obstruction, possibly due to a mucus plug, which has led to dilation of the renal pelvis as urine is unable to flow normally past the obstruction. Compensatory hypertrophy can occur when one kidney adapts to the loss of function in the other kidney. In this case, the hypertrophy may be moderate and is a response to the chronic renal failure of the left kidney.