Kidney Swelling

• Hydronephrosis is the medical term for kidney swelling. The direct cause of hydronephrosis is a backup of urine, which in turn can be the result of a number of medical illnesses and conditions. Hydronephrosis can be unilateral or bilateral. Unilateral hydronephrosis indicates that only one kidney is swollen. By contrast, bilateral hydronephrosis involves both kidneys.
  
  

Urinary Tract Blockage

• Blockage along the ureteropelvic junction (the tube that leads to and from the kidney) is the most common cause of hydronephrosis. Blockage can be due to a number of issues, including kidney stones, blot clots due to fibrous tissue and birth defects that affect ureter size. Cancerous tumors that press up against the ureter may be a more serious cause of hydronephrosis. Specifically, cancers that affect pelvic organs such as the prostate, uterus, bladder and cervix have been linked to hydronephrosis.
  
  

Treatment

• Typically, removing the cause of obstruction can easily alleviate hydronephrosis. However, treatment depends on the source of the blockage. In order to diagnose the cause, doctors make use of such procedures as CT scans, urinalysis and ultrasound. For CT scans and ultrasound, doctors attempt to pinpoint the location of blockage so that an accurate diagnosis can be determined. Depending on the specific cause, hydronephrosis may be treated through drugs or endoscopic surgery aimed at removing the obstruction. In severe cases, urgent treatment may require a doctor to drain the urinary tract to relieve pain.