CLINICAL HISTORY.—This 4-day-old boy was admitted to Childrens Hospital, Los Angeles, for evaluation of bilateral abdominal masses.
The mother's pregnancy was uneventful, but the delivery was difficult, and the umbilical cord was around the infant's neck. The baby's face was blue at birth, and sternal retractions were present. The family history was noncontributory.
Physical Examination.—There were diffuse ecchymoses of the forehead, eyelids, and nose, and many scattered petechiae were present over the head. The other positive physical findings were limited to the abdomen where firm bilateral masses were palpable, filling both flanks. The blood urea nitrogen value was 23 mg/100 ml. A plain x-ray film was taken (Fig 1) and excretory urography was performed (Fig 2 and 3).
Denouement and Discussion
Infantile Polycystic Kidneys
Infantile polycystic disease of the kidneys is a different entity from adult polycystic disease. It is considered to have an autosomal recessive mode of transmission.