eMedicine Specialties > Urology > Infections and Related Inflammatory Conditions

Perinephric Abscess: Workup

Author: Edward David Kim, MD, FACS, Professor of Surgery, Division of Urology, University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine; Consulting Staff, University of Tennessee Medical Center
Coauthor(s): Prem C Shukla, MD, Associate Chairman, Associate Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Contributor Information and Disclosures

Updated: May 23, 2008

Workup

Laboratory Studies

• Blood  
  • A CBC count usually reveals leukocytosis with a shift to the left.
  • A WBC count that exceeds 15,000 cells/μL is uncommon.
  • Anemia occurs in 42% of cases.
  • The erythrocyte sedimentation rate is elevated.
  • Azotemia may be present.
  • Blood culture identifies the pathogen in fewer than 50% of cases.
• Urine  
  • Urinalysis shows pyuria in 75% of patients.
  • Proteinuria can be a common finding.
  • Hematuria occurs in 30% of patients.
  • Urine cultures are positive in 43-75% of cases.³

Imaging Studies

Recent advances in imaging have been helpful in diagnosing perinephric abscesses. Renal ultrasonography and CT scanning have become the preferred diagnostic tools. In approximately 50% of cases, chest radiography can show a pleural effusion, elevated ipsilateral hemidiaphragm, atelectasis, and a lower-lobe infiltrate.

• CT scanning
  • CT scanning is the diagnostic modality of choice because it is more sensitive and accurate in diagnosing an intra-abdominal abscess (90%) than ultrasonography. CT scanning is also more effective in defining the precise location, size, degree, and extent of the loculation in relation to other retroperitoneal structures (see Image 2).  
  • CT scanning may also show renal enlargement; focal parenchymal decreased attenuation; fluid, gas, or both in and around the kidneys; focal thickening of the Gerota fascia; and obliteration of adjacent tissue planes.
  • The typical appearance of a perinephric abscess on a CT scan is that of a soft-tissue mass (20 Hounsfield unit) with a thick wall that may enhance after introduction of intravenous contrast material (ie, the Rind sign).
• Ultrasonography
  • Ultrasonography is able to demonstrate the fluid collections that may be poorly visualized with radiography (see Image 1). Ultrasonography is used as a screening tool to assess for obstructive uropathy (when suspected), to exclude another intra-abdominal or retroperitoneal process, and to exclude suppurative renal complications. Findings on ultrasonography depend on the homogeneity of the abscess contents. Ultrasonography is able to reveal abscesses 2 cm or larger in diameter.  
  • Findings may include a hypoechoic or a nearly anechoic mass displacing the kidney, a fluid debris level, and a thick irregular wall.
  • Findings may also include increased echogenicity if gas bubbles are present in the cavity and an echogenic collection that tends to blend with normally echogenic fat within the Gerota fascia.
  • Advantages of ultrasonography include its noninvasiveness, lack of radiation, portability, relative accessibility, capability to be used as an initial screening tool, and its capability to be helpful in carrying out percutaneous drainage.
  • In one study, ultrasonographic results were falsely negative in 36% of cases when compared with CT scanning. Notably, the findings mentioned are not specific because they can also be seen in urinoma, hematoma, and lymphocele.
• Radiography
  • A plain abdominal film may show different abnormalities; however, film findings can be normal in 40% of patients. When radiography results are positive, the findings include the following:  
  • The psoas margin is absent; however, findings may be falsely positive bilaterally in 3% of healthy patients and falsely positive unilaterally in another 10% of cases.
  • Renal masses are apparent.
  • Absent renal outlines with increased density in the region of the kidney are seen in 50% of cases.
  • Displacement and rotation of the kidney can occur from collection of fluid in certain portions of the perinephric space.
  • Radiopaque renal calculi are present.
  • Retroperitoneal gas may be due to gas-forming bacteria such as E coli, Aerobacter aerogenes, and, rarely, Clostridium species.
  • Gas may have a mottled appearance, or it may surround the kidney completely.
  • Scoliosis with a concavity toward the abscess occurs in approximately 50% of cases.
  • Displaced bowel gas may be due to mass effect from a large abscess on the adjacent duodenum, stomach, or colon.
  • Infiltration of the flank stripe can occur from widening of the extraperitoneal flank fat.
• Intravenous pyelography
  • Intravenous pyelography (IVP) results are abnormal in 80% of cases. However, this study is being performed less frequently. When results are positive, the abnormalities include the following:  
  • A kidney with little or no function is present in 64% of patients.
  • Calicectasis or calyceal stretching occurs in 39% of patients.
  • Calculi are present in 14% of patients.
  • Renal displacement occurs in 4% of patients.
  • Patients may have opacified, thickened, and displaced renal fascia.
  • Rarely, extravasation of contrast material into the perinephric space can be observed.
• Angiography
  • Renal arteriography is rarely necessary because of the more commonly available CT angiography and MRI angiography. Angiography may show the following:  
  • Vasoconstriction (as opposed to vasodilatation), which is a unique response to inflammation, may be seen.
  • This may show persistent arterial filling (staining) after the kidney has reached the nephrotomographic phase; however, distinguishing the abscess from hypovascular necrotic neoplasms may be difficult.
  • The increased number and size of the perforating arteries extending from the kidney are visible.
  • Tissue blush is shown.
  • The renal capsular artery is displaced away from the kidney.
  • None of the above angiographic abnormalities is pathognomonic.
• Mobility tests: More specific information is obtained from the assessment of renal mobility using fluoroscopy or obtaining inspiration-expiration films. This mobility test provides a specificity rate of 85%. Normal kidneys move 2-6 cm with respiration; however, a kidney with perinephric abscess is fixed to the surrounding tissues and does not move during respiration (Mathe sign).
• MRI
  • On MRI, thick pus has high signal intensity on T1 images. Abscesses are more visible on T1 images, but if it extends into adjacent structures, they are more visible on T2 images.  
  • T2-weighted images show the central portion of abscess as high signal intensity, and the wall has medium-to-low intensity.
  • Advantages of MRI include no radiation exposure, better contrast sensitivity, the fact that it is not affected by metal clips or bone, better delineation of underlying soft tissues such as psoas muscle, and its usefulness in patients with allergy to contrast or renal insufficiency.
  • Disadvantages include the long imaging time, insensitivity to calcifications and small gas collections, limited use in some patients with pacemakers, contraindication with intracranial aneurysm clips, and expense.
• Radionuclide imaging
  • In radionuclide imaging, gallium citrate (Ga-67) is rarely especially useful when the local anatomy is distorted because of congenital anomalies, previous surgery, polycystic kidney disease, and chronic pyelonephritis. This scan has a true positive rate of 90% and a true negative rate higher than 90%.  
  • Disadvantages include the possibility of obtaining a false-positive result in conditions such as pyelonephritis, acute tubular necrosis, vasculitis, and neoplasms; high radiation exposure; and a delay of as long as 72 hours before imaging can be performed.
  • A WBC scan labeled with indium (In-111) is more sensitive, and it may be helpful for diagnosis.

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