Abdominal X-ray
Abnormal calcification
Renal calcification
Abnormal renal calcification may affect either the renal parenchyma (nephrocalcinosis) or more commonly the collecting system (renal calculi).
Pelvicalyceal calcification
Renal stones/calculi are concretions of inorganic material within the renal collecting system. 90% of renal calculi contain enough calcium to be visible on abdominal X-rays. Urate and matrix stones are not visible.
Renal stones are often small, but if large can fill the renal pelvis or a calyx, taking on its shape which is likened to a staghorn.
Key points
- Renal calcification can affect the renal collecting systems (calculi/stones) or the kidney parenchyma (nephrocalcinosis)
Other investigations
- Renal calculi may be visible on the 'control' study of an intravenous urogram (IVU)
- Renal calculi may also be visible with ultrasound, or CT of the abdomen and pelvis (CT-KUB)
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Staghorn calculus
- The irregularly shaped calcific density has filled and taken on the form of the right kidney lower pole calyx
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Nephrocalcinosis
Uncommonly the renal parenchyma can become calcified. This is known as nephrocalcinosis, a condition found in disease entities such as medullary sponge kidney or hyperparathyroidism.
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Nephrocalcinosis
- The renal parenchyma contains clusters of small calcific densities