Gross morphological study of the renal pelvicalyceal patterns in human cadaveric kidneys

INTRODUCTION: The knowledge of detailed calyceal anatomy is essential for performing urologic procedures such as percutaneous nephrolithotomy, percutaneous nephrostomy, flexible ureterorenoscopy, endopyelotomy, and retrograde renal surgery. This study was performed to analyze the various patterns of pelvicalyceal system in the South Indian population, and compare these with previously published studies in different populations. METHODS: The study was conducted in 100 kidney specimens. Morphologically undamaged kidneys belonging to both sexes were removed en bloc from cadavers and autopsy cases of the Departments of Anatomy and Forensic Medicine, respectively. The specimens were carefully dissected, and the percentage of various patterns was compared with previous studies. RESULTS: The renal pelvis was found to be intrarenal in 79% of the specimens. The most common type of anatomy was a bicalyceal system with two major calyces, one each from the upper and lower poles, with the middle zone drainage dependent on any one or both of them. An interesting and rare variation of extrarenal calyces with the absence of renal pelvis was observed in 1% of the specimens. In addition, the presence of minor calyces opening directly into the renal pelvis was seen in 8% of the specimens. CONCLUSION: A biclayceal system of drainage with intrarenal pelvis is the most common calyceal pattern in the kidneys. The patterns must be borne in mind while examining a radiological report involving the kidneys.