Renal Lymphangiectasia: an Unusual Mimicker of Hydronephrosis

Renal lymphangiectasia (RLM) is a rare, benign, and developmental disorder of the renal lymphatic system characterized by cystic dilatation of perirenal and/or intrarenal (parapelvic and/or peripelvic) lymphatic vessels. Malformation of the renal lymphatic tissue secondary to familial, developmental, and acquired causes, leads to the obstruction of lymphatic vessels, accumulation of lymph and formation of RLM. Only dozen of cases of renal lymphangiectasia have been reported in the...
More Description

Renal lymphangiectasia (RLM) is a rare, benign, and developmental disorder of the renal lymphatic system characterized by cystic dilatation of perirenal and/or intrarenal (parapelvic and/or peripelvic) lymphatic vessels. Malformation of the renal lymphatic tissue secondary to familial, developmental, and acquired causes, leads to the obstruction of lymphatic vessels, accumulation of lymph and formation of RLM. Only dozen of cases of renal lymphangiectasia have been reported in the literature. Renal lymphangiectasia was mostly asymptomatic or with nonspecific symptoms, unilateral or bilateral, and unrelated to age or gender. In this book, authors summarized the current knowledge about the renal lymphangiectasia, including the etiology and pathophysiology, clinical presentation, imaging findings on different diagnostic modalities, differentials, complications, and treatment of this rare entity.