Renal cortical necrosis
- Cortical necrosis is fairly uncommon but can occur due to widespread thrombosis as a result of septicaemia, particularly gram negative septicaemia or endotoxaemia. Both the tubules and the glomeruli are damaged.
- Affected areas are pale, swollen and sharply demarcated at the corticomedullary junction.
Renal medullary necrosis
- The renal medulla is highly susceptible to infarction due to its poor blood supply.
- Medullary necrosis can be caused by NSAID therapy, venous occlusion, amyloidosis (cats), urinary obstruction, pyelonephritis or renal pelvic calculi.