Hypoplasia renum: a comparative study of diagnosis, clinical course and management

Twenty patients with hypoplastic kidney (12 men and 8 women, left kidney in 13 cases, right kidney in 7 cases) were observed between 1961 and 1971. The age of the patients ranged from 14 to 60 years. The anomaly predominated (65% of the patients) in the third and fourth decades of life; in this age the diagnosis of the true nature of the condition was often due to complications requiring examination. Carefully taken history and complete radiological survey are essential for the recognition. The value and characteristic features yielded by particular investigation are discussed. In 8 patients clincial diganosis was confirmed at operation. Most common complications of hypoplastic kidney included hypertension, lithiasis, hydronephrosis, pyelonephritis and periodic hematuria. In 9 pateints (4 women and 5 men) renal hypoplasia was associated with other anomalies of the genitourinary tract.