Healthy kidneys typically filter around half a cup of blood every minute, removing wastes and excess water to produce urine. However, there are various renal conditions that can affect kidney function, with pelviectasis and pelvicaliectasis being notable examples. While both conditions can lead to kidney enlargement, they have distinct characteristics and underlying causes.
The key difference between pelviectasis and pelvicaliectasis lies in the extent of dilation within the kidney. Pelviectasis refers specifically to the dilation of the renal pelvis caused by excess urine accumulation, whereas pelvicaliectasis describes the dilation of both the renal pelvis and calyces due to the same cause.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Pelviectasis
3. What is Pelvicaliectasis
4. Similarities – Pelviectasis and Pelvicaliectasis
5. Pelviectasis vs Pelvicaliectasis in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Pelviectasis vs Pelvicaliectasis
7. FAQ – Pelviectasis and Pelvicaliectasis
What is Pelviectasis?
Pelviectasis is a condition where urine accumulates in the central region of the kidney, known as the renal pelvis. Pelviectasis is also defined as an increased buildup of urine inside the central part of the kidney. This makes the kidney larger than normal. Pelviectasis can affect one or both kidneys. Pelviectasis usually happens in 1 % of all pregnancies. This condition also affects males more than females. Pelviectasis can be caused by ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO) and vesicoureteral reflux. An enlarged renal pelvis is a sign of this condition.
Pelviectasis can be diagnosed through a 20-week anatomy ultrasound. Furthermore, pelviectasis is treated through a pyeloplasty, which is a surgical procedure that eliminates a blockage between the kidney and ureter, and fetal surgery for severe cases.
What is Pelvicaliectasis?
Pelvicaliectasis is a medical term used to describe a dilated renal pelvis and calyces. The signs and symptoms of this condition may include blood in the urine, abdominal pain and tenderness, trouble urinating, increased urge to urinate, pus in the urine, and foul-smelling urine. Pelvicaliectasis can be caused by ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO), vesicoureteral reflux, bladder cancer, blockage of the kidneys (usually due to a birth defect), renal fibrosis, tumors or cysts, urine buildup, kidney infection, kidney stones, renal or urologic tuberculosis, kidney cancer, and UTIs.
Pelvicaliectasis can be diagnosed through cystoscopy, ultrasound, urography, and urinalysis. Furthermore, treatment options for pelvicaliectasis may include antibiotics for infection, surgery to remove tumors or kidney stones and nephrostomy tubes or catheters to drain urine.
Similarities Between Pelviectasis and Pelvicaliectasis
- Pelviectasis and pelvicaliectasis are two renal conditions.
- Both these conditions can ultimately cause kidney enlargement.
- These conditions may cause complications.
- Both these conditions can be diagnosed through ultrasounds.
- They can be treated through specific surgeries.
Comparing the Difference Between Pelviectasis and Pelvicaliectasis
Definition
- Pelviectasis is a condition where urine gathers in the center of the kidney called the pelvis, leading to the dilation of the pelvis.
- Pelvicaliectasis is a condition where urine gathers in both the pelvis and calyces, leading to the dilation of the pelvis as well as the calyces.
Causes
- Pelviectasis can be caused by ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO) and vesicoureteral reflux.
- Pelvicaliectasis can be caused by ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO), vesicoureteral reflux, bladder cancer, blockage of the kidneys (usually due to a birth defect), renal fibrosis, tumors or cysts, urine build-up, kidney infection, kidney stones, renal or urologic tuberculosis, kidney cancer, and UTIs.
Signs and symptoms
- In Pelviectasis, the pelvis of the kidney is bigger than normal.
- In Pelvicaliectasis, the signs and symptoms include blood in the urine, abdominal pain and tenderness, trouble urinating, increased urge to urinate, pus in the urine, and foul-smelling urine.
Diagnosis
- Pelviectasis is diagnosed through a 20-week anatomy ultrasound.
- Pelvicaliectasis is diagnosed through cystoscopy, ultrasound, urography, and urinalysis.
The following table summarizes the difference between pelviectasis and pelvicaliectasis.
Summary – Pelviectasis vs Pelvicaliectasis
Renal conditions affect the normal function of the kidneys. Pelviectasis and pelvicaliectasis are two renal conditions. In pelviectasis, urine gathers in the center of the kidney, called the pelvis, leading to the dilation of the pelvis. In pelvicaliectasis, urine gathers in both the pelvis and the calyces, leading to the dilation of both the pelvis and the calyces. Thus, this is the key difference between pelviectasis and pelvicaliectasis.
FAQ: Pelviectasis and Pelvicaliectasis
1. What is the range of Pelviectasis?
- Fetal pyelectasis or renal pelvic dilatation is the enlargement of the renal pelvis from 4 to 10 millimeters in diameter. Severe pyelectasis or hydronephrosis is the enlargement of the renal pelvis to greater than 10 mm in diameter.
2. What color is your pee if you have kidney disease?
- Urine can turn dark brown when there is a kidney disease or UTI. However, urine color alone is not a definitive indicator of kidney disease, and other symptoms and diagnostic tests are necessary for a proper diagnosis.
3. Is pelviectasis normal?
- Pelviectasis can sometimes occur in pregnant women due to hormonal changes and the pressure exerted by the growing uterus on the urinary tract. In many cases, this is a benign and temporary condition that resolves after childbirth.
4. Is Pelviectasis the same as hydronephrosis?
- Pelviectasis and hydronephrosis are related conditions involving dilation of the renal pelvis, but they are not exactly the same. Pelviectasis refers to the dilation of the renal pelvis alone, while hydronephrosis involves the dilation of both the renal pelvis and the renal calyces, often resulting from obstruction of urine flow.
Reference:
1. “Pyelectasis – An Overview.” ScienceDirect Topics.
2. “Pyelectasis of the Kidney: An Overview.” HealthMatch, HealthMatch.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Illu Kidney” (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Ultrasound showing right renal caliectasis and stones” By Cerevisae – Own work (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia