Un “uncommon” case of polycystic kidney disorder

Authors

  • Vittorio Cannavò Internal Medicine Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University Hospital “G. Martino” of Messina
  • Federica Bellone Internal Medicine Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University Hospital “G. Martino” of Messina
  • Francesca Maria Bueti Internal Medicine Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University Hospital “G. Martino” of Messina, Messina
  • Aurora Lo Porto Internal Medicine Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University Hospital “G. Martino” of Messina, Messina
  • Carmela Morace Internal Medicine Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University Hospital “G. Martino” of Messina, Messina
  • Giorgio Basile Geriatrics Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University Hospital “G. Martino” of Messina
  • Giuseppe Mandraffino Internal Medicine Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University Hospital “G. Martino” of Messina
  • Giovanni Squadrito Internal Medicine Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University Hospital “G. Martino” of Messina

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.13129/1828-6550/APMB.113.1.2025.CCS2

Keywords:

unilateral kidney cysts, renal failure, stenosis of ureteropelvic juncture, aberrant renal arteries

Abstract

An anomaly radiologically detected at a first line examination- if not properly contextualized - may lead to erroneous diagnostic hypotheses and subsequent therapeutic interventions. Hydronephrosis could be sometime misdiagnosed with a diffuse cystic involvement of one kidney causing parenchymal enlargement with a normal contralateral kidney. We report here a case of a 55 -year- old man with suboptimally controlled arterial hypertension and progressive increase of creatinine serum levels, who initially received a diagnostic suspicion of unilateral polycystic kidney disease. After an accurate differential diagnosis, our findings were consistent with a unilateral hydronephrosis caused by stenosis of ureteropelvic juncture due to an aberrant renal artery. Patient has undergone successfully robotic surgery, with progressive clinical and laboratory improvement.

References

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Published

2025-07-15

Issue

Section

CLINICAL CASE SEMINAR