WBR0419
| Author | [[PageAuthor::Rim Halaby, M.D. [1], Alison Leibowitz [2] (Reviewed by Alison Leibowitz)]] |
|---|---|
| Exam Type | ExamType::USMLE Step 1 |
| Main Category | MainCategory::Embryology |
| Sub Category | SubCategory::Renal |
| Prompt | [[Prompt::A 19-year-old male presents to the ER with complaints of abdominal pain. You order abdominal and pelvic CT scans and no etiology of the abdominal pain is determined. However, an incidental finding is documented in the CT scan image illustrated below. Which of the following arteries is involved in this patient’s incidental finding?
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| Answer A | AnswerA::Umbilical artery |
| Answer A Explanation | [[AnswerAExp::Umbilical artery is not involved in horseshoe kidney.]] |
| Answer B | AnswerB::Superior mesenteric artery (SMA) |
| Answer B Explanation | [[AnswerBExp::The superior mesenteric artery (SMA) is not involved in horseshoe kidney.]] |
| Answer C | AnswerC::Inferior mesenteric artery (IMA) |
| Answer C Explanation | [[AnswerCExp::The inferior mesenteric artery (IMA) stops the ascend of the horseshoe kidney and the latter remains low in the abdomen.]] |
| Answer D | AnswerD::Descending aorta |
| Answer D Explanation | [[AnswerDExp::Descending aorta is not involved in horseshoe kidney.]] |
| Answer E | AnswerE::Renal artery |
| Answer E Explanation | [[AnswerEExp::Renal artery is not involved in horseshoe kidney.]] |
| Right Answer | RightAnswer::C |
| Explanation | [[Explanation::Horseshoe kidney is a congenital disorder caused by renal fusion of the central portion. As the fused kidney ascends during embryological development, the inferior mesenteric artery (IMA) hinders its ascent and the kidney remains low in the abdomen. Horseshoe kidneys are frequently incidental findings because kidney function is generally not impaired.
EducationalObjectives= Horseshoe kidney is a congenital disorder caused by fusion of the two kidneys. Patients with horseshoe kidney often have normal renal function. During development, the fused kidney fails to ascend to its normal location in the abdomen due to obstruction by the IMA. As a result, horseshoe kidney lies low in the abdomen. |
| Approved | Approved::Yes |
| Keyword | WBRKeyword::horseshoe kidney, WBRKeyword::kidney, WBRKeyword::excretory system, WBRKeyword::arteries, WBRKeyword::cardiovascular system, WBRKeyword::IMA, WBRKeyword::abnormal, WBRKeyword::incidental finding |
| Linked Question | Linked:: |
| Order in Linked Questions | LinkedOrder:: |
