Renal ectopia in childhood. Experience in 13 cases

: Renal ectopy is a rare congenital malformation related to an abnormal migration of the kidney from the sacral to the lumbar region. Three possibilities are present: absent migration (pelvic ectopia), excessive (intrathoracic ectopia) or to the opposite side (crossed ectopia). During the last 10 years in the Department of Pediatric Surgery of the Niguarda Hospital 13 cases of renal ectopy have been observed. Five patients had a crossed ectopy (4 with fusion) and eight had a simple ectopy (1 intrathoracic, 7 pelvic). Female were more affected than males (9 cases) and the right side was involved in 8 cases, the left in 4 cases and both kidneys in 1 case. Associated anomalies were present in 7 patients: 6 cases with exclusively genito-urinary malformations while 1 patient only was polimalformed (cloacal exstrophy, MMC, bilateral TEV). Correct diagnosis was obtained during urologic screening in 5 cases (1 suspected antenatally), while in 7 cases was related to the associated symptoms (UTI, hematuria, abdominal pain). Seven patients were surgically treated for the associated urologic abnormalities while in the remaining six cases no treatment was required.