Intrathoracic ectopic kidney: Surgical intervention and its consequences

Abstract

Intrathoracic ectopic kidney is a very rare form of ectopic kidney. It is usually asymptomatic and diagnosed incidentally during chest investigations. A 3-year-old boy was admitted to our center with respiratory distress and fever recurrent since birth. An abdominal ultrasound, chest X-ray, intravenous pyelogram, and computed tomography revealed a right-sided intrathoracic ectopic kidney. A thoracotomy approach was used. The right intrathoracic ectopic kidney was reduced to the abdominal cavity and a diaphragm fold was performed. Subsequently, severe hydronephrosis and obstruction as a result of ureteral folding required repeated surgical intervention.

Keywords

• Ectopic kidney
• Intrathoracic ectopic kidney
• Thoracic kidney