Definition

1. Noun:
   • A medical condition characterized by the swelling of a kidney due to a buildup of urine: This occurs because urine cannot drain properly from the kidney to the bladder, typically due to a blockage in the ureter (the tube that carries urine from the kidney to the bladder).

Usage

• As a medical diagnosis: The term is used to describe the specific pathological state of the kidney.
  • The ultrasound revealed hydronephrosis in the patient's left kidney.
  • Chronic hydronephrosis can lead to kidney damage if left untreated.

Advanced Usage

• "Bilateral hydronephrosis": A condition where both kidneys are swollen due to urine accumulation, often indicating a more systemic obstruction.

  • The newborn was diagnosed with bilateral hydronephrosis, requiring immediate evaluation.

• "Obstructive hydronephrosis": Specifies that the swelling is directly caused by a physical blockage.

  • The stone caused obstructive hydronephrosis, which was very painful.

Variants and Related Words

• Hydronephrotic (adj): Describing something related to or affected by hydronephrosis.
  • The hydronephrotic kidney showed significant enlargement on the scan.

Synonyms

• Kidney swelling (due to obstruction): A descriptive, non-technical synonym.
• Pelvicaliectasis: A more specific medical term referring to the dilation of the renal pelvis and calyces, which is the hallmark of hydronephrosis.

Related Medical Terms (Not Phrasal Verbs)

• Ureteral obstruction: The common cause of hydronephrosis.
• Nephrostomy: A surgical procedure often performed to relieve severe hydronephrosis by draining urine directly from the kidney.

Notes

• Hydronephrosis is not an idiom or a phrase with figurative meaning. It is a precise clinical term used in urology and nephrology.
• The condition itself is a sign of an underlying problem (like a kidney stone, tumor, or congenital defect) rather than a primary disease.

Noun

1. accumulation of urine in the kidney because of an obstruction in the ureter