Acute pyelonephritis : role of enhanced CT scan in the prediction of clinical outcome

PURPOSE: To correlate the CT findings of acute pyelonephritis with its outcome and with clinical data. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty five contrast enhanced CT scans in patients diagnosed as suffering from acute pyelonephritis were retrospectively analyzed. Findings based on the morphology of perfusion defect in the renal parenchyma were classified as normal, focal wedge, multifocal wedge, focal mass, or mixed form composed of wedge and mass. These findings were correlated with clinical data such as degree of fever, leukocytosis, the period after antibiotic treatment during which fever was reduced, and the presence of pyuria in each group Analysis was then performed. RESULTS: Perfusion defects were seen in 23 of 35 cases, and their morphology was classified as follows; focal wedge (n=2), multifocal wedge (n=8), focal mass (n=4), and mixed form (n=9). Twelve cases (34.3%) showed no perfusion defect. The duration of fever was significantly prolonged in patients with focal mass form(p<.05). There was no significant correlation between the morphology of perfusion defect, bilaterality, and other clinical factors. CONCLUSION: The present study shows that the clinical course of the focal mass form of perfusion defect, as seen on CT, is different from that of other types. CT could be effective in predicting clinical progress and the outcome of treatment in cases of acute pyelonephritis.ope