Angiographic evaluation of the nonvisualizing kidney

Intravenous and retrograde pyelography may be unsuccessful in establishing the cause of unilateral renal nonvisualization. A group of patients in whom renal arteriography and/or venography proved useful is reported. Obstruction of the renal artery by thrombosis, embolus or trauma was the most common cause of unilateral nonvisualization evaluated in this series. Other causes (in order of decreasing frequency) included renal agenesis, renal tumor, infection, ureteral obstruction, renal vein thrombosis and arteriovenous fistula.