What about someone like myself (and many others) who have a horseshoe kidney? ANSWER: A horseshoe kidney is, indeed, shaped like a horseshoe. Instead of two kidneys developing separately, one horseshoe kidney is formed by the kidneys fusing across the midline. People with a horseshoe kidney should avoid excess anti-inflammatory drugs and should promptly seek attention for urinary symptoms. A tumor of a horseshoe kidney would ideally be treated through the removal of the tumor -- not the whole kidney -- if possible.