[The multicystic kidney. Anatomo-radiological study of 19 operative specimens. Practical and pathogenic consequences]

19 specimen of pathologically proved multicystic kidneys were opacified; first through the ureter and second, if the ureter was not patent, through a puncture of one of the cysts (or several if the first cyst did not communicate with the ureter or with other cysts). The results are as follows. The ureter was hypoplastic but patent in 12 and communicated with some of the cysts in 9 or with all the cysts in 3. These communications consisted of large (12 cases) or small (15 cases) canals, or both large and small canals (11 cases). When patent, the ureter was connected to these canals. Moreover in most of the cases, there was a communication between cysts through such canals. Finally, only 3 cases fitted with the classical description having an atretic ureter and non communicating cysts. Our conclusion is that the same basal defect is present in congenital obstructions of pelvis and calyces; there is a continuous spectrum of malformations between congenital hydronephrosis, hydrocalyces and multicystic kidneys.