Overview
The presence of ballotable or tender kidneys may provide a significant amount of information about the cause of a patient's renal disease, and in particular the presence of polycystic kidney disease.
How to Perform
- With the patient supine, place one hand on the abdomen over the kidney and the other hand over the flank posteriorly. Attempt to ballot the kidney between the two hands. Repeat on both sides.
The kidneys are not palpable in most normal patients, though may be palpable in thin patients and children.
Palpable Kidney
The kidneys are not palpable in most normal patients, though may be palpable in thin patients and children.
Causes of Palpable Kidney
- Hydronephrosis - kidney stone, ureteric clot, tumour, stricture
- Congenital - horseshoe kidney, nephroblastomatosis
- Cysts - benign cyst, polycystic kidney disease, Von-Hippel-Lindau disease
- Malignancy - renal cell carcinoma, lymphoma
- Renal hypertrophy - single kidney, contralateral reduced renal function
Renal Percussion
Flank tenderness to percussion is a relatively sensitive sign for renal pathology, especially pyelonephritis and perinephric abscess.
How to Perform
- With the patient sitting, place one palm over the costovertebral angle and use the ulnar aspect of the other hand (in a fist) to gently percuss the kidneys.
Flank Tenderness
Causes of Flank Tenderness
- Infection - pyelonephritis, perinephric abscess
- Malignancy - renal cell carcinoma, transitional cell carcinoma
- Renal infarction
- Trauma
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