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Updated: May 23, 2026

Point-of-Care Kidney and Genitourinary Ultrasound in Adults: Image Acquisition
Published on: June 21, 2024
MR imaging of focal medullary sponge kidney: case report
Tomoyuki Hida1, Akihiro Nishie, Yoshiki Asayama
1Department of Clinical Radiology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan.
Abstract:
We present a case of focal medullary sponge kidney (MSK) that mimicked a renal tumor. Evaluation of a patient with history of macrohematuria revealed a left renal mass of 3-cm diameter. T(1)-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) images revealed a mass of mixed intensity protruding toward the renal sinus. On fat-saturated T(2)-weighted MR images, the lesion's remarkable hyperintensity suggested the presence of an aggregation of tiny cysts. On diffusion-weighted MR images, the mass also demonstrated high intensity, and its apparent diffusion coefficient was partly decreased (1.12 × 10(-3) mm(2)/s). On computed tomography, precontrast images revealed no calcification in the mass. Although slight enhancement was seen in the corticomedullary phase, thick and dense streaks of contrast radiating peripherally were identified in the mass in the excretory phase. Focal MSK was diagnosed. We discuss the potential of MR imaging for diagnosing focal MSK.
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