A renal abscess that forms in the parenchyma due to hematogenous spread of Staphylococcus aureus is called which?

A renal abscess that forms in the parenchyma due to hematogenous spread of Staphylococcus aureus is called which?

• A. Pyonephrosis
• B. Perinephric abscess
• C. Cortical abscess
• D. Carbuncle

Answer: (D)

When bacteria seed the kidney from the bloodstream, they often lodge in the renal cortex and form multiple small abscesses in the parenchyma. This pattern is known as a renal carbuncle and is classically caused by Staphylococcus aureus. This fits the scenario of a parenchymal infection arising from hematogenous spread. Pyonephrosis means pus in the collecting system with obstruction, not parenchymal abscess. A perinephric abscess is outside the kidney, in the surrounding fat. A cortical abscess describes an abscess within the cortex but does not emphasize the clustered, multifocal hematogenous seeding characteristic of a carbuncle. Therefore, the best answer is renal carbuncle.

When bacteria seed the kidney from the bloodstream, they often lodge in the renal cortex and form multiple small abscesses in the parenchyma. This pattern is known as a renal carbuncle and is classically caused by Staphylococcus aureus.

This fits the scenario of a parenchymal infection arising from hematogenous spread. Pyonephrosis means pus in the collecting system with obstruction, not parenchymal abscess. A perinephric abscess is outside the kidney, in the surrounding fat. A cortical abscess describes an abscess within the cortex but does not emphasize the clustered, multifocal hematogenous seeding characteristic of a carbuncle. Therefore, the best answer is renal carbuncle.