Right Renal Ectopia Following Major Weight Loss

Abstract

Presenting with severe stomach pain from sigmoid volvulus, a woman in her 90s was effectively treated with colonoscopic desufflation. Interestingly, serial imaging over 16 years demonstrated gradual cranial displacement of the right kidney to the hepato-diaphragmatic space without prior trauma, surgery or congenital abnormalities. The patient remained asymptomatic with respect to renal function despite significant anatomical displacement. No specific intervention was required for the ectopic kidney. It is important to recognise the potential for organ migration associated with ageing, significant weight loss or metabolic alterations, particularly in the context of increasing use of weight-loss medications. Awareness of such anatomical variants can prevent misinterpretation of incidental findings on clinically indicated imaging. Routine imaging solely to detect asymptomatic positional changes is not justified.