INTERPOSITION OF THE COLON BETWEEN THE KIDNEY AND THE PSOAS MUSCLE - A NORMAL ANATOMIC VARIATION STUDIED BY CT

The position of the bowel in the pararenal space was examined in relat ion to the kidney and the psoas muscle in 1203 abdominal computed tomo graphic (CT) examinations. The ascending colon was found between the l ower kidney pole and the psoas muscle in 1.7% and the descending colon in 0.7% of the patients. This variation appeared more frequently in w omen, young adults, and individuals with less intrabdominal fat. Later al displacement of the lower kidney pole was observed in 40% of the pa tients with this normal variation. These findings may be of value when interpreting urographic and abdominal CT examinations.