Objective: We report the case of a 61-year-old male with the incidental diagnosis of intrathoracic renal ectopia during the workup study for a possible lung mass.
Methods: We performed a bibliographic review on the incidence, origin, clinical presentation and diagnosis of this type of renal ectopia.
Results: Chest x-ray showed a left posterior mediastinum mass. Bronchoscopy was performed showing signs of extrinsic compression with absence of neoplastic cells. CT scan revealed a left intrathoracic ectopic kidney with diaphragmatic hernia.
Conclusions: Intrathoracic renal ectopia is a very unfrequent finding, often asymptomatic, frequently an incidental diagnosis that does not require treatment.