Multidetector CT in Renal Tuberculosis

Abstract

Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the commonest infectious diseases in the developing countries with rising incidence seen due to HIV and AIDS. Pulmonary tuberculosis is the commonest form seen. Renal Tuberculosis is the most common extrapulmonary form. There are no specific clinical symptoms associated with renal tuberculosis. The constitutional symptoms like low grade fever, weight loss, anorexia commonly seen with pulmonary TB are not usually seen with renal TB. Renal TB is also cause of interstitial nephritis which leads to end-stage renal failure. Hence the role of radiologist assumes importance in supporting the timely diagnosis although cultures or histologic analysis is required for definitive diagnosis. The individual imaging finding may not be diagnostic as it can be seen with other renal pathologies too, however, presence of multiple imaging findings in a single case is pointer to this disease. Renal TB involves both cortex and collecting system. This article gives review of pathophysiology and computed tomography features of Renal TB.