Skip to content
DraconiticResearch
Search Sources API
197,693 studies31 sourcesUpdated 43 min ago
Peer-reviewedCC BY-NC-NDRadiology case reports

Emphysematous pyelonephritis in a diabetic patient: A case report highlighting diagnostic challenges and successful conservative management.

  • Ya Gao1
  • JianKai Gao2
  1. 1Department of Infectious Diseases, The Fifth Clinical Medical College of Henan University of Chinese Medicine, People's Hospital of Zhengzhou, Zhengzhou, China.
  2. 2Department of Emergency, The Fifth Clinical Medical College of Henan University of Chinese Medicine, People's Hospital of Zhengzhou, Zhengzhou, China.
Read full textPDFDOICite

Abstract

Emphysematous pyelonephritis (EPN) is a rare, life-threatening necrotizing renal infection predominantly affecting diabetics. We report a 66-year-old female with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes who presented with right flank pain and fever. CT confirmed Class 2 EPN with gas confined to the renal parenchyma. Blood cultures grew Escherichia coli. She was successfully managed conservatively with imipenem-cilastatin, fluid resuscitation, and insulin therapy, avoiding surgery. This case highlights CT's role in early EPN diagnosis and demonstrates that tailored medical management can be a nephron-sparing alternative in selected patients.

Related

  1. Escherichia Coli–associated Emphysematous Pyelonephritis in Previously Undiagnosed Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Requiring Nephrectomy: A Case Report and Review of Literature
    Yasuhiro Niida, Masakazu Uejima, Takuma Moriguchi +6
    Internal MedicinePeer-reviewedCC BY-NC-NDFull textEpidemiology & public healthJ-STAGE
  2. Pulmonary Epithelioid Trophoblastic Tumor Without Demonstrable Uterine Involvement: A Case Report and Literature Review Highlighting Diagnostic Challenges and Multidisciplinary Management
    Journal of clinical medicinePeer-reviewedCC BYFull textGeneral medicineEurope PMC
  3. Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis in a Patient With Alcohol‐Associated Liver Disease: A Case Report Highlighting Diagnostic Challenges
    Adalis Rivera, Hakan R. Toka, Yasser Samra +2
    Clinical case reportsPeer-reviewedCC BY-NC-NDFull textGeneral medicineEurope PMCPMC
  4. Diagnostic and Management Challenges in Xanthogranulomatous Pyelonephritis: A Case Report
    Sarah Ahmed, Bushra Aleem
    CureusPeer-reviewedCC BYFull textMedical imaging & radiologyInfectious diseaseEurope PMCPMCEurope PMC
  5. Recurrent anaphylaxis highlighting methodological variability and diagnostic challenges in the basophil activation test: a case report.
    Kento Okutomi, Yuki Sugiyama, Asako Nitta +2
    JA clinical reportsPeer-reviewedCC BYFull textPharmacology & toxicologyEurope PMCPMC

Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{gao2026emphysematous,
  title = {{Emphysematous pyelonephritis in a diabetic patient: A case report highlighting diagnostic challenges and successful conservative management.}},
  author = {Ya Gao and JianKai Gao},
  journal = {Radiology case reports},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.1016/j.radcr.2026.09.055},
  url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42910099},
  note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Emphysematous pyelonephritis in a diabetic patient: A case report highlighting diagnostic challenges and successful conservative management.
AU  - Ya Gao
AU  - JianKai Gao
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/13
JO  - Radiology case reports
DO  - 10.1016/j.radcr.2026.09.055
UR  - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42910099
AB  - Emphysematous pyelonephritis (EPN) is a rare, life-threatening necrotizing renal infection predominantly affecting diabetics. We report a 66-year-old female with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes who presented with right flank pain and fever. CT confirmed Class 2 EPN with gas confined to the renal parenchyma. Blood cultures grew Escherichia coli. She was successfully managed conservatively with imipenem-cilastatin, fluid resuscitation, and insulin therapy, avoiding surgery. This case highlights CT's role in early EPN diagnosis and demonstrates that tailored medical management can be a nephron-sparing alternative in selected patients.
SN  - 1930-0433
ER  -