Sonography of the hypertrophied column of Bertin

A prospective sonographic analysis of kidneys in 136 adults without clinical or radiologic evidence of renal disease revealed 22 cases of large columns of Bertin. Most were located in the middle third of the kidney, more frequently on the left side. They were bilateral in 18%. Water bath sonograms of normal cadaver kidneys and subsequent anatomic correlation revealed hypertrophied columns and confirmed the sonographic findings seen in vivo. The following are characteristic of a hypertrophied column of Bertin: It is a projection of cortex into the renal sinus (and therefore is isoechogenic with it). The sinus may engulf it in a clawlike fashion. The renal contour is smooth. Sonography is characteristic and obviates further investigation.