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What Is Cortical Calcification?
Question: I'm a 34yr old male sent for a kidney ultrasound for history of stones. It showed a 8mm unobstructive stone in the right kidney and a 11mm unobstructive stone in the left kidney both unchange from the last scan. There was a new finding of a 5mm cortical calcification in the midpole of the right kidney not previously seen on the previous scan from 8 months prior. My appointment with my urologist isn't for another 3 weeks so forgive my question. What is the cortical calcification? Is it something to worry about?
Brief Answer:
Most likely a renal calculus
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for asking!
Cortical calcification means there is some calcified structure in cortex ( outer peripheral portion) of the kidney. 5 mm is most likely a stone or any other condition where calcium deposits increase in kidney. like nephrocalcinosis, hyperoxaluria( increased oxalates in urine) as you already have renal calculi so that would be a most likely guess, Hypercalcemia ( increased calcium in blood irrespective of cause can also cause that. And no worries. It is nothing to worry about. Most calcifications in young age are innocuous and this one is just 5 mm which is very small. It can wait for three weeks till the urologist appointment . Once there it will be worked up further for the etiology and then it would be more clear regarding what caused it.
I hope it helps. Dont forget to close the discussion please.
Take care
Most likely a renal calculus
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for asking!
Cortical calcification means there is some calcified structure in cortex ( outer peripheral portion) of the kidney. 5 mm is most likely a stone or any other condition where calcium deposits increase in kidney. like nephrocalcinosis, hyperoxaluria( increased oxalates in urine) as you already have renal calculi so that would be a most likely guess, Hypercalcemia ( increased calcium in blood irrespective of cause can also cause that. And no worries. It is nothing to worry about. Most calcifications in young age are innocuous and this one is just 5 mm which is very small. It can wait for three weeks till the urologist appointment . Once there it will be worked up further for the etiology and then it would be more clear regarding what caused it.
I hope it helps. Dont forget to close the discussion please.
Take care
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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