Spectrum of gas within the kidney. Emphysematous pyelonephritis and emphysematous pyelitis.

Renal emphysema is an important clinical entity that is not addressed frequently in the medical literature. The affected patients may have gas within the renal parenchyma, emphysematous pyelonephritis, or confined to the collecting system, emphysematous pyelitis. Two patients that illustrate the spectrum of this entity are described. The literature has been reviewed to determine the clinical features of each disorder and to provide a schema for diagnosis and management. Emphysematous pyelonephritis is seen primarily in diabetic patients, whereas emphysematous pyelitis is recognized most often in association with urinary tract obstruction. The diagnosis is made radiographically by demonstrating renal gas on plain abdominal roentgenography or intravenous pyelography. Location and extent of renal gas are best evaluated by computed tomographic scanning. Intraparenchymal gas usually requires nephrectomy, whereas successful therapy of gas limited to the collecting system involves medical management, with a drainage procedure when obstruction coexists.