Intrathoracic Kidney Detected on DTPA Scan.

Intrathoracic kidney is very rare and has the lowest prevalence among all renal ectopias. We report the case of a 70-year-old male who was referred for diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) scan as a part of presurgical work-up for a right renal mass. PriorUltrasonography abdomen incorrectly reported left kidney as normal in location. Tc-DTPA renal scan combined with single-photon emission computed tomography - computed tomography revealed impaired global glomerular filtration rate with left kidney in ectopic (intrathoracic) location. 18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography-computed tomography images revealed a soft tissue mass completely replacing the right kidney with metastases to bilateral lungs. This case reemphasizes the importance of nuclear medicine imaging in diagnosis and evaluation of the renal function of the intrathoracic kidney.