What are the causes of palpable kidneys?
Palpation for the kidneys is best performed bimanually, with one hand behind the patient in the costovertebral angle and the other anteriorly just below the costal margin.
They may be normally palpable in very thin individuals. Pathologic causes include:
• ADPKD (both kidneys will be palpable)
• Large kidney tumors
• Obstruction of the urinary tract with severe hydronephrosis
• Very large kidney cyst(s)
