Medullary nephrocalcinosis: sonographic findings in adult patients.

Abstract

Medullary nephrocalcinosis occurs in various diseases as a non-specific renal manifestation. We present 5 patients (hypophosphataemic rickets, type 1 renal tubular acidosis, primary hyperparathyroidism, hypercalcaemia of unclear origin, chronic renal insufficiency requiring dialysis) in whom a medullary nephrocalcinosis was demonstrated by means of sonographically detectable changes in the renal medulla region. The sonographic appearance of medullary nephrocalcinosis is characterized by detection of echo-enhanced structures in the region of the renal pyramids. The presence of a medullary nephrocalcinosis can generally be confirmed with adequate reliability on the basis of sonographic findings and characteristic clinical pictures. In individual cases it is difficult to distinguish between medullary nephrocalcinosis and renal calyx calculi.