Renal Ectopia in the Pelvic Area: A Rare Case

Abstract

Renal ectopia is a positional defect during development, consistently accompanied by malrotation, always involving abnormal vascularization with one or more ectopic arteries and a ureter of appropriate length for the location of the kidney. It is distinct from renal ptosis. Several types of ectopias are distinguished: on one hand, simple ectopias occurring in the vertical direction (intrathoracic kidney, low-lying kidney) or in the transverse direction (crossed ectopia), and on the other hand, ectopias with symphyses. Pathological pelvic ectopic kidney is rare. It is often revealed by pain, infectious complications, urinary lithiasis, or sometimes fortuitous discovery. We report the case of a 60-year-old patient with a history of hip prostheses, incidentally discovering, through a diagnostic assessment for nephritic colic due to contralateral ureteral lithiasis, a left ectopic kidney in the pelvic area on a CT scan. Based on this case and literature data, we will discuss the etiopathogenic, clinical, radiological, and therapeutic aspects of this malformation.