Horseshoe kidney (HSK) represents the most common congenital anomaly of the urinary tract, occurring in approximately 1 in 400-600 individuals, with a male predominance.It typically results from fusion of the lower poles of the kidneys by a fibrous or parenchymal isthmus and is frequently associated with ectopia, malrotation, and vascular anomalies.Although usually asymptomatic and often discovered incidentally during imaging for unrelated conditions, HSK may predispose individuals to complications such as hydronephrosis, nephrolithiasis, infection, and ureteropelvic junction (UPJ) obstruction.We report the case of a 37-year-old woman who presented with two months of amenorrhea and severe abdominal pain.With a provisional diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy, an ultrasound was performed, but it proved inconclusive.Subsequent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed an ectopic pregnancy along with the incidental finding of an HSK.The kidneys were normally positioned, fused at their lower poles by a parenchymal band, and showed no associated ureteral abnormality.Morphologically, the anomaly corresponded to the U-shaped type described in the literature.This case highlights the importance of considering renal fusion anomalies in radiological evaluations performed for unrelated indications.Recognition of HSK is clinically significant not only for the diagnosis of associated conditions but also for planning surgical or interventional procedures due to altered anatomy and vascular patterns.
Begum et al. (Tue,) studied this question.