I have been very busy this semester. I have been working full time and studying for my CT boards. I see many interesting cases working in CT. This week I saw a patient who had horseshoe kidneys. Horseshoe kidneys are very common. This affects 1 in 400 people, mostly males. This is a congenital anomaly where the kidneys are fused together. This fusion usually occurs in the lower poles of the kidneys. Horseshoe kidneys can be diagnosed by CT Scan or even IVP. Common problems associated with horseshoe kidneys include frequent infection, recurrent renal stones, and ureter obstruction. About 1/3 of the people with known horseshoe kidneys have no symptoms or complications.
