Conditions our MRI scans have found

Caliectasis occurs when there is excess fluid in your calyces (cavities in which urine collects before it flows into the urinary bladder). Causes of caliectasis include blockage/obstruction in the kidneys, cysts, tumors, kidney stones, urine buildup (hydronephrosis), and urinary tract infections.

“Milk of calcium” is a term to describe the condition when calcium deposits form inside a kidney cyst. These findings are likely benign (non-cancerous), but rarely, a simple cyst can enlarge, cause a dull pain in a person’s back or side, or become infected causing fever.

Normally, kidneys are about the size of a fist or 10-12 cm (about 5 inches). The kidneys are generally close to each other in size with the size difference generally less than one centimeter in length. The right kidney is commonly slightly bigger than the left, but some individuals are born with a larger left kidney than the right.

The renal cortex is the outer layer of the kidney. Kidney atrophy means that the kidney is smaller than normal. This can happen for two basic reasons. The first is that part of the kidney does not develop completely from birth (called a congenital problem). This type of kidney atrophy or small kidney usually does not need any special treatment. The second type happens after birth, and can occur in one or both kidneys. This type of kidney atrophy is due to a lower blood supply (i.e. ischemia) to the kidney(s) and/or loss of nephrons, the basic working units of the kidneys.

Sometimes the salts and minerals in the urine can crystalize and form kidney stones. Factors that increase the risk of developing kidney stones include a family or personal history of having stones in the past, dehydration, obesity, and diets high in animal protein, sodium (salt) and/or sugar.  If a kidney stone does get stuck, obstructed, it can cause symptoms of flank (side and/or back), groin or abdominal pain, nausea/vomiting, bloody urine, and painful or frequent urination.

Sometimes the salts and minerals in the urine can crystalize and form kidney stones. Factors that increase the risk of developing kidney stones include a family or personal history of having stones in the past, dehydration, obesity, and diets high in animal protein, sodium (salt) and/or sugar.  The renal stone in your images is not blocking the flow of urine.