Renal fungal ball—two case reports and review of literature

Fungal ball or fungal bezoar is the saprophytic colonization of a pre-formed cavity by a conglomerate of fungal mycelia without invasion of the adjacent tissue. Fungal bezoar is seen commonly in immunocompromised individuals. We describe the cross-sectional imaging characteristics of two cases of renal fungal ball, a rare clinical entity. The first case is that of a 36-year-old female with diabetes who presented with a single fungal ball that caused ballooning of the renal pelvis by coelomycetes, a rare species of fungi. The second case is that of a 45-year-old immunosuppressed male with diabetes who presented with multiple Candida albicans fungal balls and emphysematous pyelonephritis. Awareness about the various imaging findings of this rare clinical entity and a high index of suspicion in high-risk individuals will help in overcoming the challenges in early diagnosis and, thereby, institution of proper treatment.