Imaging findings of IgG4-related kidney disease without extrarenal organ involvement: A case report

RATIONALE: IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is a systemic chronic inflammatory disorder that can affect almost every organ. IgG4-RD includes IgG4-related kidney disease (IgG4-RKD), but lesions affecting the kidney alone or first are very rare, and a complete understanding is lacking. Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings can show the typical characteristics of IgG4-RKD and provide information for accurate and rapid diagnosis. PATIENT CONCERNS: We report a case of a 60-year-old woman who was admitted to our hospital for dizziness and instability while walking, her bilateral eyelids were also slightly swollen. She had no medical history. DIAGNOSES: CT and MRI images of the patient revealed multiple local and diffuse patchy lesions in the bilateral renal parenchyma and mass-like tissue in the bilateral renal pelvis, accompanied by right hydronephrosis. A pathological examination of renal samples showed numerous lymphocyte and plasma cell infiltration. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated approximately 50% of the IgG-positive plasma cells to be IgG4+. The serum IgG level was obviously elevated, with both C3and C4 levels were reduced. The patient was diagnosed with IgG4-RKD. INTERVENTIONS: The patient received corticosteroid therapy at another hospital. OUTCOMES: The bilateral kidney lesions were smaller on follow-up CT images. LESSONS: IgG4-RKD exhibits some characteristic imaging features. Despite the relatively low incidence of IgG4-RKD, it should be included in differential diagnoses when images show multiple lesions in kidneys with mild and delayed enhancement and hypointensity on T2WI in middle-aged to elderly patients