A unilateral pelvic kidney with variant vasculature: clinical significance

The incidence of ectopic pelvic kidney accounts for ~1 of 2500 live births. Although pelvic kidneys are most often asymptomatic, they may be associated with several pathologies including hypertension. As pelvic kidney results from a brief interference of the ascension of the developing kidney, it is frequently accompanied by an atypical and variable blood supply. The presence of multiple arteries and veins and their abnormal course and morphology are associated with surgical and radiological significance. Malrotation of the kidney with extrarenal calyces further predisposes the pelvic kidney to recurrent urinary tract infections. This report describes a rare case of a unilateral pelvic kidney with vascular and calyceal variations, and this case is reported to provide additional insight into this variation and its correlation to clinical practice.