Intrathoracic right kidney diagnosed by ultrasound

Intrathoracic kidneys are rare. A case is described in which the initial intravenous urogram performed for prostatism appeared to show a non-functioning right kidney. A subsequent ultrasound examination revealed that the right kidney was situated in the right hemithorax, well above the liver. Pelvic ectopic kidneys are common and standard teaching is to perform a full length film should an immediate or 5 minute renal area radiograph suggest an absent/non-functioning kidney. With the increasing use of ultrasound in the initial assessment of patients with prostatism, the possible intrathoracic location of a kidney should be remembered when there is failure to demonstrate a kidney in the abdomen or pelvis.