Pancake kidney in a patient with chronic kidney disease: A unique presentation

Area of Science:

• Nephrology
• Medical Genetics
• Radiology

Background:

• Pancake kidney is an exceptionally rare renal fusion anomaly, with fewer than 30 cases documented in medical literature.
• This condition typically presents incidentally in asymptomatic patients, often discovered during imaging or autopsy.
• Establishing associations with specific clinical findings is challenging due to its rarity.

Observation:

• A 69-year-old female patient was diagnosed with pancake kidney.
• The patient also presented with multiple renal cysts.
• Notably, the patient had a diagnosis of chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Findings:

• This case represents the first reported instance of pancake kidney co-occurring with chronic kidney disease (CKD).
• The combination of pancake kidney, renal cysts, and CKD in this patient is a unique clinical presentation.
• The rarity of pancake kidney makes understanding its full spectrum of associated conditions difficult.

Implications:

• This case expands the known clinical spectrum associated with pancake kidney.
• Further research may elucidate potential links between renal fusion anomalies and chronic kidney disease.
• Highlights the importance of comprehensive evaluation in rare congenital anomalies.