Transient Nephromegaly Simulating Infantile Polycystic Disease of the Kidneys

Abstract

The discovery of bilaterally enlarged kidneys near the time of birth often portends a poor prognosis for renal function. Important diagnostic considerations include obstructive uropathy, renal venous thromboses, Wilms'tumor, infantile polycystic kidney disease, and renal multicystic dysplasia. In this report, we describe a child in whom enlarged bilateral kidneys were noted during the first day of life and to whom a presumptive clinical diagnosis of infantile polycystic kidney disease was incorrectly assigned, primarily on the basis of the excretory urogram. By 6 weeks of age, however, the kidney size was normal, and at 2 years of age, the boy remains in good health with radiographically normal kidneys. CASE REPORT