A cortical bulge on the lateral side of the kidney is called which of the following terms?

• A. Dromedary hump
• B. Hypertrophied column of Bertin
• C. Junctional parenchymal defect
• D. Papilla

Answer: (A)

Recognize normal renal contour variants on ultrasound. A cortical bulge on the lateral border of the kidney is a dromedary hump, a benign variant of renal anatomy. It shows as a smooth outward projection of the cortex that blends with the normal renal tissue and maintains clear corticomedullary differentiation, so it does not distort calyces or imitate a mass.

The other terms describe different entities. A hypertrophied column of Bertin is an enlarged internal renal column within the cortex that can look prominent on imaging but remains an intraparenchymal feature rather than a lateral cortical bulge. A junctional parenchymal defect is a triangular or wedge-shaped area at the corticomedullary junction, typically a developmental variation that can mimic scarring but is not a lateral contour bulge. Papilla refers to the tip of the renal pyramid and is part of the collecting system, not a lateral cortical protrusion.