Renal cortical microabscesses as cause of reversible acute renal failure.

We report a case of renal cortical microabscesses which presented as oliguric acute renal failure. Prior to the biopsy the patient was suspected of having acute pyelonephritis with acute tubular necrosis. Biopsy was performed to rule out rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis as a cause of his renal failure. To our surprise, we found multiple small microabscesses in the renal cortiex. Renal cortical microabscesses should be considered as a reversible acute renal failure.