Dense appearance of the kidneys | Figure 1
CincyKidsRad
Dense appearance of the kidneys
Abdominal x-ray in an infant with renal failure shows a dense appearance of the kidneys. This dense nephrogram was caused by retention of contrast after an interventional procedure. A bilateral dense nephrogram can be caused by hypotension (related to sepsis or an allergic reaction to contrast). Other causes include renal artery stenosis, acute kidney injury, or urinary obstruction.