Universal papillary necrosis: report of a case of widespread sloughed and calcified papillae mimicking multicomponent staghorn calculi.

A case of florid papillary necrosis is presented demonstrating the unusual and graphic feature of universal sloughed and calcified papillae, resulting in recurrent obstruction. Recognizing this entity from plain radiographs is important in not overlooking this potentially treatable cause of progressive renal failure.