RT Book, Section
A1 Dirkx, Tonja C.
A1 Woodell, Tyler
A2 Papadakis, Maxine A.
A2 McPhee, Stephen J.
A2 Rabow, Michael W.
SR Print(0)
ID 1166170486
T1 Imaging Studies of the Kidney
T2 Current Medical Diagnosis and Treatment 2020
YR 2020
FD 2020
PB McGraw-Hill Education
PP New York, NY
SN 9781260455281
LK accessmedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1166170486
RD 2022/05/19
AB Ultrasonography  can  characterize  the  thickness  and  echogenicity  of  the  renal  cortex,  medulla,  and  pyramids  and  identify  a  distended  urine  collecting  system.  Kidney  size  can  be  measured;  normal  kidney  size,  which  can  vary  depending  on  age  and  size  of  adults,  is  usually  9–12  cm  in  length.  A  kidney  less  than  9  cm  in  length  in  an  adult  suggests  (but  does  not  confirm)  significant,  irreversible  kidney  disease.  A  difference  in  size  of  more  than  1.5  cm  between  the  two  kidneys  may  be  observed  in  unilateral  kidney  disease.  Kidney  ultrasound  is  also  performed  to  assess  for  obstruction  and  hydronephrosis  (eFigure  22–2),  to  characterize  kidney  mass  lesions,  to  screen  for  autosomal  dominant  polycystic  kidney  disease  (see  Figure  22–6),  to  evaluate  the  perirenal  space,  to  localize  the  kidney  for  a  percutaneous  invasive  procedure,  and  to  assess  postvoiding  residual  urine  volume  of  the  bladder.  Assessing  kidneys  in  markedly  obese  patients  can  be  difficult  due  to  body  habitus;  a  CT  scan  may  be  required.