Sponge Kidney: A Review of the Literature and a Report of Five Cases

Medullary Sponge Kidney Associated with Parathyroid Adenoma

“…There is indirect evidence indicating that such an association might have been present in other patients with medullary sponge kidney. A beshouse and A beshouse [13] reported hypercalcemia of 11.4-13.3 mg/100 ml in three patients with medullary sponge kidney, pyelonephritis and azotemia. It is very likely that these patients had hyperparathyroidism, which might have been due either to uremic secondary hyperparathyroidism [14] or adenoma of the parathyroid glands.…”

Medullary Sponge Kidney and Urinary Calculi: Aeromedical Concerns

“…This condition is generally discovered in patients in their third to sixth decade (6). It is more common in men and Caucasians but has a higher rate of complications from calculi in women (1,5,27). The pathogenesis of MSK remains unknown but most authors agree it represents a developmental defect of the collecting tubules (6,27).…”

“…The disease is generally pan renal and bilateral (75% bilateral). Case reports of segmental MSK are uncommon in the literature (1,5,7,9,19,23).…”

“…As a rule MSK does not grossly impair renal function (6,25,27). The most common chief complaints include hematuria (10% -55%), renal colic (11%-60%), lumbar pain (33%), pyuria (18%), chronic pyelonephritis (5%-16%) and urinary symptoms (11%-33%) (1,5,6). …”

“…The reported range of stone formation has varied from 40%-94% of those incidentally radiographically diagnosed with MSK (1,5,16,17). Lifetime morbidity of 60% is the most commonly quoted number, with 50% being symptomatic within five years of diagnosis.…”