Osmosis video - Renal cortical necrosis

Renal cortical necrosis is one of the causes of prerenal acute kidney injury, caused by a sudden drop in blood perfusion to the renal cortex resulting from acute tubular necrosis. Causes that can lead to this hypoperfusion of the renal cortex include spasms of the feeding arteries, microvascular injury, or disseminated intravascular coagulation.

Symptoms may include a sharp decrease in urine output, flank pain at the costovertebral angle, and hematuria. Diagnosis is usually made by imaging techniques such as computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Treatment options are limited, and the main focus is usually on supportive care and management of underlying causes. Renal replacement therapy may be necessary in some cases.