Journal of endourology
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Journal of endourology · Apr 1999
Heightened suspicion and rapid evaluation with CT for early diagnosis of partial renal infarction.
Although renal infarction has been well studied and clearly defined, it remains greatly underdiagnosed, resulting in significant morbidity. Acute segmental renal infarction is a diagnosis even more problematic, as the problem can appear insidiously and masquerade as other entities including stone, infection, and even tumor. The clinical manifestations and evaluation of partial renal infarction in our patients were reviewed. ⋯ In evaluating partial renal infarction, a strong clinical suspicion is necessary. We found a history of dysrhythmia or other cardiac disease, the presence of abdominal or flank pain, fever with an elevated white cell count, and an elevated LDH to be clinically significant, and their presence should alert the clinician to the possibility of renal infarction. Once a degree of suspicion exists, early evaluation with CT should speed the diagnosis and effect decreased morbidity.