Renal arteriovenous malformation

Clinical:

  • A 45 years old lady
  • presented with back pain and microscopic hematuria of one year duration
  •  

    No hypertension or cardiac problem

  • UFEME- RBC 5+, others normal. All blood investigations are normal
  • Screening for connective tissue disease are negative
Ultrasound right kidney in longitudinal plane

Ultrasound findings:

  • There is mild separation of pelvicaliceal systems of right kidney.
  • However on colour doppler study, the centrally located cystic lesions thought to be part of prominent pelvicalyceal systems are actually prominent vessels
  • No lesion within the renal parenhcyma.
  • Left kidney reported as normal.

CT scan findings:

  • Early enhancement of both renal veins is seen during arterial phase (white arrows).
  • Multiple rounded enhancing structures in both kidneys with enhancement pattern similar to vessels.
  • No hydronephrosis or cortical lesions bilaterally.
Flush aortogram
Selective right renal arteriogram.
Selective left renal arteriogram

Renal angiogram findings:

  • Flush aortogram shows presence of tortuous vessels at the lower pole of both kidneys. Early draining veins into the inferior vena cava and left renal veins are also seen.
  • Selective right renal arteriogram shows multiple tortuous vascular channels in the lower pole of right renal. Feeding vessels are from right inferior interlobar arteries.
  • Selective left renal artery arteriogram shows tortuous cirsoid vessels in the lower pole. Feeding arteries are inferior interlobar arteries.

Diagnosis: Bilateral renal arteriovenous malformation.

Discussion:

  • Renal AVM is formed by a connection between the arterial and venous structures, without flowing through a capillary bed.
  • It is a rare condition.
  • Ultrasound shows irregular, hypoechoic region in the renal parenchyma. Unable to differentiate with cyst unless color Doppler is used
  • Colour dopple ultrasound shows high-flow lesion with possible pulsatility.
  •  

    CT scan shows well-marginated renal lesion that enhances similar to the blood pool with early enhancement of the draining renal vein.

  •  

    Currently, the most common treatment of renal AVM is transcatheter embolization.

Progress of patient:

  • Embolization done for both renal AVMs.
  • Relieves of symptoms (backpain) after the treatment.
Post embolization shows obliteration of right AVM and good blood supply to whole right renal. However, on left side there is good supply to upper and midpole of the kidney.  Infarction of 20-30% seen.
Author: radhianahassan