Radiologic findings in renal amyloidosis

The radiologic findings in 35 patients with renal amyloidosis (six primary and 29 secondary) are presented. Twenty of the patients with secondary amyloidosis had rheumatoid arthritis. Four patients had enlarged kidneys, 19 had contracted kidneys, and in nine it was possible to follow the decrease in renal size by repeat examinations. Earlier concepts that renal enlargement is typical for amyloidosis cannot be supported; this is probably only seen in the acute stage of the disease. Of 10 renal angiograms performed, all were abnormal. Renal amyloidosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of contracted kidneys, especially if there is a clinical history of a chronic condition such as rheumatoid arthritis.