Pediatric Intrathoracic Kidney

Etiology: Kidney rises into chest before diaphragm closes or through patent Foramen of Bochdalek or in trauma
Imaging: Kidney in chest
DDX:
Complications:
Treatment: None
Clinical: 5% of renal ectopia

Radiology Cases of Intrathoracic Kidney

CXR and CT of intrathoracic kidney — CXR AP (upper left) shows a rounded mass in the left lower lobe which appears posterior in location on the CXR lateral (upper right). Coronal and axial CT with contrast of the chest (below) shows the left kidney to be in the lower left hemithorax. In the operating room, a defect at the foramen of Bochdalek was noted and repaired after the kidney had been reduced into the abdomen.

CT of intrathoracic kidney — Coronal CT with contrast of the chest (above left) shows the left kidney in the lower left thorax with its vascular pedicle coursing away from it inferiorly. Sagittal CT (above right) shows the kidney had ascended into the chest through the foramen of Bochdalek. Axial CT (below) again shows the kidney in the left hemithorax.

CXR and CT of intrathoracic kidney — CXR PA and lateral (above) shows a soft tissue mass in the posterior costophrenic sulcus. Axial CT with contrast of the chest shows the right kidney in the right hemithorax.