Ureteropelvic junction obstruction in a thoracic kidney treated by dismembered pyeloplasty

Ectopic positioning of the kidney is a relatively common event, with the thoracic location of the ectopic kidney the most unusual. At least 140 cases of thoracic kidney have been described, with no consistent anomalies reported in association with the superior location. The vast majority of patients with thoracic kidney are asymptomatic, with the problem discovered incidentally. We report the first documented case of a thoracic kidney presenting with flank pain and demonstrating ureteropelvic junction obstruction on nuclear scintigraphy treated by open dismembered pyeloplasty through a supra-11th rib incision.