Pielocalyal dilation, also known as renal chalice ectasia or renal enlarger, is characterized by dilation of the inner part of the kidney, this area is known as the renal pelvis because it is shaped like a funnel and has the function of collecting urine and directing the ureters and bladder, as shown in the figure.
This dilation is usually caused by increased pressure in the urinary tract by a blockage in the passage of urine, which can be caused by deformities of urinary tract structures, which is more common in children, or by situations such as stones, cysts, tumors. or severe kidney infection, which can also occur in adults. This change doesn’t always cause symptoms, but pain in the abdomen or changes in urination can occur, for example.
- Skin-limestone dilation.
- Also known as hydronephrosis.
- Can be diagnosed by image examinations in the region.
- Such as ultrasounds.
- Which can demonstrate the degree of dilation.
- Kidney size.
- And whether its size causes compression of kidney tissue.
- Right Dilation of pielocation is usually more common.
- But it can also occur in the left kidney.
- Or in both kidneys.
- Being bilateral.
There are several causes of urine passage obstruction through the pielocal system, and the main ones are:
The causes of pielocalyal dilation in the newborn are not yet clear and, in most cases, tends to disappear after the baby is born; however, there are cases caused by anatomical deformities of the baby’s urinary tract, which are more serious situations.
Pielocalicial dilation in adults, on the other hand, usually occurs as a result of cysts, stones, nodules or cancer in the renal region or ureters, which cause the blockage of the passage of urine and its accumulation, resulting in the dilation of the renal pelvis. Learn more about causes and how to identify them in hydronephrosis.
Cyclococsocial dilation can be diagnosed by ultrasound or ultrasound of the kidney system. In some cases, dilation can be detected in the baby while still in the mother’s uterus during routine ultrasound exams, but is usually confirmed after the baby is born.
Other tests that may be indicated for evaluations include excretory urography, urinary urethrography, or renal scans, for example, that may assess more details about anatomy and urine flow in the urinary tract, how it is done, and indications of excretory urography.
Treatment of skin-ocalytic dilation in a newborn depends on the size of the dilation, when the dilation is less than 10 mm, the baby only needs several ultrasounds for the pediatrician to control its evolution, as the dilation tends to disappear normally.
When dilation is greater than 10 mm, treatment is done with antibiotics prescribed by the pediatrician, in the most severe cases, where the dilation is greater than 15 mm, surgery is recommended to correct the cause of the dilation.
In adults, skin-calcium dilation treatment may be done with medications prescribed by the urologist or nephrologist, and surgery may be needed, depending on the kidney disease that causes the dilation.