Clinics in diagnostic imaging (99)

M Muttarak, W Na Chiang Mai
Correspondence: Prof Malai Muttarak, mmuttara@med.cmu.ac.th

ABSTRACT
A 57-year-old woman, known to have diabetes mellitus, presented with a one-week history of fever, dysuria, and left flank pain. Computed tomography showed extensive left renal parenchymal destruction and a large gas collection. Urine culture revealed growth of Escherichia coli. The diagnosis of emphysematous pyelonephritis was confirmed at left nephrectomy. The clinical manifestations of emphysematous pyelonephritis, types of gas-forming renal infection, and their radiological findings are discussed.

Keywords: computed tomography, emphysematous pyelonephritis, gas-forming organisms, kidney, renal infection
Singapore Med J 2004; 45(7): 340-343