MEDIAL BORDER OF THE PERIRENAL SPACE - CT AND ANATOMIC CORRELATION

PURPOSE: To explore the mode of spread of disease between the perirena l space and the perivascular central retroperitoneum and to determine the anatomy along the medial border of the perirenal space. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Anatomic dissection, injection of latex, and observation of cross sections of the abdomen were performed in nine cadavers. Atte ntion was paid to the juncture of the central prevertebral, perivascul ar, and extraperitoneal regions, and the perirenal spate. Anatomic fin dings were correlated with observations made at computed tomography (C T) in 82 patients with retroperitoneal hemorrhage (n = 24), inflammati on (n = 37), and neoplasia (n = 21) involving the perirenal spaces or the central retroperitoneum. RESULTS: Along most of the length of each kidney, no apparent fascia separates the perirenal space from the cen tral retroperitoneum. At this location, septa between fat lobules form a fenestrated multitier barrier. These septa were imperceptible on CT scans obtained in healthy individuals. After injection of latex in ca davers, this potential barrier was seen. In the clinical study, spread of disease was allowed in only 38 (30%) of 128 instances of potential spread. Spread was facilitated along the renal vessels and the interl obular septa. CONCLUSION: Beyond the kidneys, the renal fascia is clos ed, forming a cone superiorly and an inverted cone inferiorly. A netwo rk of interlobular septa acted as a barrier or pathway to the free spr ead of disease from the perirenal space to the central retroperitoneum or from the central retroperitoneum to the perirenal space.