Spontaneous subcapsular renal haemorrhage presenting with pleuritic chest pain

We present an unusual case of spontaneous renal subcapsular haematoma in a normal kidney presenting with pleuritic chest pain and mimicking pulmonary embolism. The literature suggests that the majority of these cases occur in association with renal tumours and that the diagnosis can best be made by computed tomographic scanning. Treatment is expectant but because of the high incidence of tumours, nephrectomy is usually necessary.