A STUDY OF THE RADIOLOGICAL ANATOMY OF THE MULTICYSTIC KIDNEY

Eleven multicystic kidneys were investigated by preoperative ultrasoun d and functional assessment and ex-vivo radiological injection. The ur eter was in continuity with the renal pelvis in 3, 1 had a dilated upp er ureter and renal pelvis, 10 had intercommunicating cysts, and 3 had tubular structures coursing around and into cysts. The anatomic featu res demonstrated by these radiographic studies suggest that the aetiol ogy of this condition may be a vascular accident with secondary parenc hymal changes due to a combination of ischaemia and obstruction, rathe r than a primary metanephric blastema or ureteric bud abnormality.