[The forms and frequency of renal parenchymal cones]

The renal parenchymal cone (RPC) is an important differential diagnosis to the real kidney tumors. It is defined as at least 15 mm large part of the normal renal parenchyma which protrudes into the space of the renal sinus. If the RPC is solely formed from renal cortical tissue, it is called "Column of Bertin" renal parenchymal cones (CB-RPC). If the renal medulla is part of RPC, together with the renal cortex, it is called lobular renal parenchymal cones (L-RPC). The aim of this prospective study was to determine the frequency of CB-RPC and the L-RPC. 200 kidneys from 100 patients were evaluated. At least one RPC was found in 53 patients. 27 RPC were on both sides. CB-RPC was present in 27,5% of the kidneys, a L-RPC in 12,5%. The high frequency of RPC underlines its importance in the diagnosis of focal renal parenchymal changes.