Search

Pancake kidney is one of the least common renal fusion anomalies encountered in medical practice. Less than 30 cases of this renal variant have been reported in the medical literature. Patients are generally asymptomatic, with the diagnosis of pancake kidney usually found incidentally on imaging study or autopsy. Given the rarity of reported cases, it is difficult to establish a relationship with specific associated clinical findings. Asymptomatic patients are managed conservatively with regular follow-up. We present the case of a 69-year-old female who was found to have pancake kidney, several renal cysts, and chronic kidney disease (CKD). No other reported cases have the diagnosis of CKD.

Objectives: Although the number of patients awaiting renal transplant is rapidly increasing, the donor pool has remained relatively stable. Horseshoe kidneys, a common renal fusion anomaly, can provide a useful solution to the ever increasing gap between supply and demand., Materials and Methods: These kidneys can be transplanted, en bloc, into a single recipient or divided and transplanted into 2 recipients., Results: We report 2 cases of successful kidney transplants., Conclusions: The first is a split horseshoe kidney, transplanted into a single recipient, and the second, a horseshoe kidney from a donor after cardiac death split and transplanted into a single recipient. The second case is the first reported case of a horseshoe kidney transplant from a donor after cardiac death. We also performed a review of the literature of horseshoe kidneys with the hope of raising awareness of the necessity and promise of such transplants.