Sarah P. Psutka
Harvard Medical School Year III
Gillian Lieberman MD
Sarah P. Psutka, 2007
Gillian Lieberman MD
Goals
Review Anatomy: Urinary Tract
Define Unequivocal Obstructive Uropathy
Pathophysiology
Pathology
Clinical Presentation
Patient KA
Patient JL
Patient JM
Radiologic Work-up Modalities
Management
2
Sarah P. Psutka, 2007
Gillian Lieberman MD
Cortex Superior
Operculum
Medulla
Papilla
Pelvis
Inferior
Operculum
Fornix
3
Sarah P. Psutka, 2007
Gillian Lieberman MD
Hydronephrosis
Hydronephrosis
http://www.merck.com/media/mmhe2/figures/fg148_1.gif
http://www.e-radiography.net/ibase5/Renal/slides/
Renal_ca_bladder_hydronephrosis_rt_ivu.jpg
Tubular dilatation
Parenchymal Atrophy
Renal failure 5
Pathogenesis of unilateral hydronephrosis. Smiths Urology p.181
Sarah P. Psutka, 2007
Gillian Lieberman MD
6
Blandino et al., AJR 2002; 179: 1307 -1314
http://asia.elsevierhealth.com/home/sample/pdf/314.pdf
Sarah P. Psutka, 2007
Gillian Lieberman MD
Pathology
Dilated renal pelvis (arrow), external view Dilated pelvis & calyces, renal atrophy, cut surface
http://www.smbs.buffalo.edu/pth600/IMC- http://www.smbs.buffalo.edu/pth600/IMC- 7
Path/y1case/y1ans21.htm#Obstructivelesionsintheurin Path/images/Year1/Hydronephrosis_Gross-_Robbins.jpg
arytract
Sarah P. Psutka, 2007
Gillian Lieberman MD
Renal insufficiency Consider UTO in all patients with unexplained renal insufficiency
Urine Output Changes
Anuria = complete bilateral UTO
Partial obstruction normal to elevated UO
Hyperkalemic renal tubular acidosis
Hypertension
Lab Abnormalities: normal, microscopic/gross hematuria, pyuria, azotemia, uremia,
anemia (2/2 chronic infection, ACD), leukocytosis
8
Sarah P. Psutka, 2007
Gillian Lieberman MD
Presentation: Patient KA
65 yo male c/o several days of
hematuria and back pain.
Exam: MM dry, enlarged
prostate, difficult foley Renal Failure
placement, minimal urine
output (30cc following 1 L IVF) Oliguria
U/A: Large blood, + nitrite,
protein > 300mg/dL, glucose Infection
100, ketones 15 mg/dL, large
bilirubin, Urobilin 4 mg/dL, pH Hematuria
6.5, large leukocytes
WBC: 6.2
Hgb: 11.2
Cr: 8.4 (baseline 1.4)
9
Sarah P. Psutka, 2007
Gillian Lieberman MD
Presentation: Patient JL
57 yo male with history of bladder
CA, renal stones, presents with
severe L flank pain. s/p TURBT
for bladder CA.
Exam: no CVA tenderness, no Hematuria
abdominal tenderness, normal Flank Pain
sized prostate
Renal function
Labs:
unperturbed
Cr = 1.3
Hgb = 15.4 WBC = 11.7
U/A: large blood
10
Sarah P. Psutka, 2007
Gillian Lieberman MD
Presentation: Patient JM
11
Sarah P. Psutka, 2007
Gillian Lieberman MD
Think Anatomically:
Where is obstruction?
Proximal
etiology
Series: 53 of 380 patients
52/53 in lower 1/3 of the ureter.
Unilateral Causes:
hydronephrosis
Ureteral stones 64%
Most Common in Distal Ureter Ureteral edema or lucent
stones 30%
Systemic or Neoplasms 4%
Bilateral
hydronephrosis
13
Obstructive lesions of the urinary tract that cause hydronephrosis from Robbins & Cotran, 7th Ed, Chap 20, p 1013
Sarah P. Psutka, 2007
Gillian Lieberman MD
CT examination: Postcontrast axial scan: The retroperitoneal giant tumor mass compresses the
right ureter and causes hydronephrosis (arrows). 14
http://www.szote.u-szeged.hu/radio/panc/alep8c.htm
Sarah P. Psutka, 2007
Gillian Lieberman MD
Diagnosis
15
Sarah P. Psutka, 2007
Gillian Lieberman MD
Ultrasonography
Test of Choice for Suspected Urinary Tract Obstruction
Screening test
Indications: Renal failure of unknown origin/Hematuria/Signs of UTO/Urolithiasis
Sensitivity for detection of chronic obstruction: 90%
Sensitivity for detection of acute obstruction: 60%
Advantages:
No allergic/toxic complications of radiocontrast media
Fast, inexpensive
Diagnose other causes of renal disease in patient with renal insufficiency of
unknown origin
Polycystic Kidney Disease
Disadvantages
Nonspecific
Rarely identifies cause
False positive rate: < 25% with minimal criteria (operator dependent)
Any visualization of collecting systems
False negative with acute obstruction, dehydration, sepsis
Bowel Gas decreases sensitivity
16
Sarah P. Psutka, 2007
Gillian Lieberman MD
Normal renal
parenchyma,
hypoechoic,
normal function
17
Pt. AK, PACS, Courtesy of Dr. AC Kim
Sarah P. Psutka, 2007
Gillian Lieberman MD
Renal
parenchyma,
hypoechoic
Dilated collecting
duct, hypoechoic
(fluid)
Compressed
renal fat,
hyperechoic
18
Pt. AK, PACS, Courtesy of Dr. AC Kim
Sarah P. Psutka, 2007
Gillian Lieberman MD
Noncontrast
CT
Enhancing
calculus in
interpolar
portion of R
Kidney
20
Sarah P. Psutka, 2007
Gillian Lieberman MD
CT (postcontrast):
Giant retroperitoneal
tumor mass
compressing the right
ureter, causing
hydronephrosis with
compression of renal
parenchyma (arrows).
http://www.szote.u-szeged.hu/radio/panc/alep8c.htm
21
Sarah P. Psutka, 2007
Gillian Lieberman MD
Proximal
Stone
CT (postcontrast):
Obstructive left-sided
uropathy with
proximal ureteric
stone
22
PACS, Courtesy of Dr. D. Brennan
Sarah P. Psutka, 2007
Gillian Lieberman MD
Advantages
Anatomy
Pathology Location
Rough indicator of function bilaterally
Low false positive rate
Detects associated conditions
Papillary necrosis intralumenal filling defect
Caliceal blunting from previous infection
Disadvantages
Cumbersome
Requires radiocontrast http://www.e-
radiography.net/ibase5/Renal/slides/Renal_ca_bladder_hy
Need bowel prep with conventional IVU dronephrosis_rt_ivu.jpg
Radiation dose
Need cross-sectional imaging follow up 23
Sarah P. Psutka, 2007
Gillian Lieberman MD
CT Urography
Evaluate urinary tract for flow defects
Noncontrast Scout first: Urolithiasis
Coronal reconstructions: visualize entire urinary tract
Disadvantages
Radiation dose
Ionic Contrast reactions/cannot be used in patients in
renal failure
24
Sarah P. Psutka, 2007
Gillian Lieberman MD
Normal CT Urogram
CT Urography
Total Body
Opacificantion
Nephrogram
Pyelogram
25
Pt. JL, PACS, Courtesy of Dr. AC Kim
Sarah P. Psutka, 2007
Gillian Lieberman MD
Normal CT Urogram
CT Urography
Total Body
Opacificantion
Nephrogram
Pyelogram
26
Pt. JL, PACS, Courtesy of Dr. AC Kim
Sarah P. Psutka, 2007
Gillian Lieberman MD
Normal CT Urogram
CT Urography
Total Body
Opacificantion
Nephrogram
Pyelogram
27
Pt. JL, PACS, Courtesy of Dr. AC Kim
Sarah P. Psutka, 2007
Gillian Lieberman MD
Normal CT Urogram
CT Urography
Total Body
Opacificantion
Nephrogram
Pyelogram
28
Pt. JL, PACS, Courtesy of Dr. AC Kim
Sarah P. Psutka, 2007
Gillian Lieberman MD
Normal CT Urogram
CT Urography
Total Body
Opacificantion
Nephrogram
Pyelogram
29
Pt. JL, PACS, Courtesy of Dr. AC Kim
Sarah P. Psutka, 2007
Gillian Lieberman MD
Normal CT Urogram
CT Urography
Total Body
Opacificantion
Nephrogram
Pyelogram
30
Pt. JL, PACS, Courtesy of Dr. AC Kim
Sarah P. Psutka, 2007
Gillian Lieberman MD
Normal CT Urogram
CT Urography
Total Body
Opacificantion
Nephrogram
Pyelogram
31
Pt. JL, PACS, Courtesy of Dr. AC Kim
Sarah P. Psutka, 2007
Gillian Lieberman MD
Must be Physician-Supervised
- Contrast reactions
- Minimize no. of images
- Minimize radiation
- May use Fluoroscopy 32
Sarah P. Psutka, 2007
Gillian Lieberman MD
MR Urography
Sagittal contrast-enhanced excretory
MR urography obstructing right
A. Unenhanced MR urography sided papillary TCC
Heavily T2 weighted
B. Gadolinium-enhanced excretory MR urography
C. Excretory MR urography + diuretic
10 mg furosemide IV
Gadopentetate dimeglumine
Advantages:
Distinguishes adjacent soft tissue abnormalities
With Gadolinium: functional information
No ionic contrast OK in renal failure
No radiation children, pregnancy women
Drawbacks
High cost
Low sensitivity in detecting calcifications
Time intensive
Metallic implants/Foreign Body = Contraindications 33
Blandino et al., AJR 2002; 179: 1307 -1314
Sarah P. Psutka, 2007
Gillian Lieberman MD
Excretory Urogram/CTU/MRU
Acute Obstruction
http://asia.elsevierhealth.com/home/sample/pdf/314.pdf 34
Sarah P. Psutka, 2007
Gillian Lieberman MD
Excretory Urogram/CTU/MRU
Chronic Obstruction
Partial Complete
Progressive dilation of collecting system Calyceal Clubbing
and ureters/tortuous
Urectasis = dilated ureter
Decrease number of nephrons
6-12 weeks: irreversible loss of renal
function
Shell nephrogram parenchymal
atrophy
Collecting system: blunt calyces/forniceal
angles
Hypoechoic fluid
filling renal pelvis
Ultrasound
Bilateral Mild Hydronephrosis
Right Kidney 11.9 cm (baseline 10.6 cm)
Left Kidney 12.7 cm (baseline 11.0 cm)
Normal flow bilaterally (seen on Doppler) 38
Sarah P. Psutka, 2007
Gillian Lieberman MD
Patient KA
Enlarged
kidney
Mild hypoechogenic
renal pelvis
Small cyst
Left Hydronephrosis
42
Pt. JL, PACS, Courtesy of Dr. AC Kim
Sarah P. Psutka, 2007
Gillian Lieberman MD
43
Pt. JL, PACS, Courtesy of Dr. AC Kim
Sarah P. Psutka, 2007
Gillian Lieberman MD
Massive
Hydronephrosis
44
Pt. JM, PACS, Courtesy of Dr. AC Kim
Sarah P. Psutka, 2007
Gillian Lieberman MD
Patient JM
Proximal renal
pelvis dilatation
without dilatation
of distal ureter
Fat
stranding
45
Pt. JM, PACS, Courtesy of Dr. AC Kim
Sarah P. Psutka, 2007
Gillian Lieberman MD
Patient JM
Proximal renal
pelvis dilatation
without dilatation
of distal ureter
Fat
stranding
46
Pt. JM, PACS, Courtesy of Dr. AC Kim
Sarah P. Psutka, 2007
Gillian Lieberman MD
Patient JM
Parenchymal
thickness
preserved
No
visible
stone
47
Pt. JM, PACS, Courtesy of Dr. AC Kim
Sarah P. Psutka, 2007
Gillian Lieberman MD
Management
Pain Control
Antibiotics
Referred to Urology for out-
patient ureteral stent
placement
Pt. JM, PACS, Courtesy of Dr. AC Kim 48
Sarah P. Psutka, 2007
Gillian Lieberman MD
49
Sarah P. Psutka, 2007
Gillian Lieberman MD
1. Diuretic Renogram
2. Diuretic IVU
3. Whitaker Test/Perfusion pressure flow
studies
Blandino et al., AJR 2002; 179: 1307 -1314
21 yo M with L Megaureter,
No obstruction 50
Sarah P. Psutka, 2007
Gillian Lieberman MD
Ultrasound CT IVU/CTU/MRU
Plain Film Renal scan/Nephrogram
Management:
Decompression
Urology Consult
Cystoscopy
51
Sarah P. Psutka, 2007
Gillian Lieberman MD
Cystoscopy
TURB
Prostate resection/TURP/PVP
Foley Catheter
52
Obstructive lesions of the urinary tract that cause hydronephrosis from Robbins & Cotran, 7th Ed, Chap 20, p 1013
Sarah P. Psutka, 2007
Gillian Lieberman MD
References
Alpers CE. The Kidney in Robbins and Cotrans Pathologica Basis of Disease. Eds Kumar, Abbas, Fausto. Elsevier-
Saunders 7th Ed. Pennsylvania 2005. pp. 955 1021.
Barbaric ZL. Urinary Tract Obstruction in Principles of Genitourinary Radiology. Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc. New
York. 1999. p 111 151.
Blandino et al., MR Urography of the Ureter: Pictoral Essay. AJR 2002; 179: 1307-1314.
Chen, M et al., Radiologic findings in Acute Urinary Tract Obstruction. J Emerg Med 1997; 15:3: 339 343.
Kawashima et al., CT Urography. RadioGraphics 2004;24:S35-S54
Rose BD. Diagnosis of urinary tract obstruction and hydronephrosis. UpToDate 2006.
Tanagho JW and McAninch EA. Urinary Obstruction and Stasis in Smiths General Urology. Lange Medical
Books/McGraw Hill 16th Ed. New York, 2004. p 175 187.
Weissleder R et al. Obstruction of Collecting System in Primer of Diagnostic Imaging. Mosby 3rd Ed. Boston, 2003.
Zagoria RJ and Tung GA. The Renal Sinus, Pelvocalyceal System and Ureter in Genitourinary Radiology The
Requisites. Mosby Publishers, Inc. St. Louis, Missouri. 1997. p.152 191.
Websites:
Hematuria Cases Liebermans Primary Care Radiology: Dr. G. Lieberman
http://www.primarycareradiology.com
Hydronephrosis Medline Plus
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000509.htm#Alternative%20Names
Diuresis Renogram Joint Program in Nuclear Medicine
http://www.med.harvard.edu/JPNM/TF96_97/Nov26/WriteUp.html
Hydronephrosis Pathology Cases
http://www.smbs.buffalo.edu/pth600/IMC-Path/y1case/y1case21.htm
OReilly, P. Upper Tract Obstruction Benign Disorders of the Upper Urinary Tract.
http://asia.elsevierhealth.com/home/sample/pdf/314.pdf
Hydronephrosis
http://www.e-radiography.net/ibase5/Renal/slides/Renal_ca_bladder_hydronephrosis_rt_ivu.jpg
CT Urography
http://www.szote.u-szeged.hu/radio/panc/alep8c.htm
53
Sarah P. Psutka, 2007
Gillian Lieberman MD
Many Thanks!
54