The Importance of Renal Ultrasound in Diagnosing Kidney Diseases
- | Category: Body Imaging
Introduction
A renal ultrasound is an imaging test probably used for kidney diagnosis. It allows your physician to observe the physiological changes in your kidneys and detect abnormalities.
The importance of kidney ultrasound in diagnosing kidney diseases is paramount. Therefore, let’s gain insight into parameters like renal ultrasound indications, how a renal ultrasound is done, what it shows, etc.
What is Renal Ultrasound?
A renal ultrasound, or kidney ultrasound, utilizes high-frequency sound waves to create detailed images of your kidneys and surrounding structures like the bladder and ureters (tubes carrying urine from the kidneys to the bladder).
Unlike X-rays, which use ionizing radiation that can damage cells over time, ultrasounds rely on sound waves, making them a safer choice for evaluating these vital organs, especially for children, pregnant women, and individuals who may require multiple examinations or multiple renal ultrasound indications.
How is a Renal Ultrasound Done?
As kidney ultrasound is paramount in kidney disease detection and diagnosis, we should know the procedure of this vital process.
Renal ultrasound technology includes a transducer that produces ultrasonic waves at a frequency too high to be heard. After the transducer is applied to the skin, the ultrasonic waves reach the body’s organs and internal structures. Like an echo, the sound waves return to the transducer after bouncing off the organs; additionally, after the transducer processes the reflected waves, a computer images the organs or tissues under examination.
Furthermore, depending on the kind of tissue encountered, sound waves move at varying speeds: they move through air more slowly and through bone tissue more quickly. Moreover, the transducer translates multiple tissues into varied frequencies and returns sound wave velocities.
Step Wise Procedure
The procedure is relatively simple and non-invasive. Here’s what to expect:
- Preparation: The technician may ask you to drink plenty of fluids beforehand to fill your bladder, as this provides a clearer image of the kidneys.
- During the Exam: You will lie comfortably on your back on an examination table. Then, a sonographer will apply a warm gel to your abdomen and lower back. A handheld transducer device gently moves across the gelled area, transmitting sound waves and capturing the returning echoes. These echoes then translate into detailed images on a monitor.
- After the Examination: the sonographer will wipe off the gel, and you can resume your normal activities. The ultrasound typically takes 15-30 minutes.
How to Get Ready for a Renal Ultrasound?
Your sonographer will detail the ultrasound pre-requirements. It might include drinking around 3 cups (24 ounces) of water to inflate the kidneys. So, it gives a clear image of the kidneys and helps in better imaging results. Moreover, they might guide you to avoid eating or drinking sometime before the test.
What Does Renal Ultrasound Show?
The healthcare provider will prescribe a kidney ultrasound when he sees the need to image a kidney for physiological diagnosis. Moreover, a kidney ultrasound may image the bladder.
Furthermore, your physician might request a kidney ultrasound if they have any of the following suspicions:
- Kidney infection.
- Kidney stones.
- A blockage or obstruction.
- Kidney cysts.
- Kidney tumor.
- An abscess.
- Pee building up in your kidney (hydronephrosis).
- Injury or trauma.
- Kidney disease.
- Issues with how blood flows to your kidneys.
- Irregularities in the size or shape of kidneys.
Furthermore, your healthcare professional may also use an ultrasound to monitor a transplanted kidney or to perform a kidney biopsy.
When is Renal Ultrasound Recommended?
Your doctor may recommend a kidney ultrasound if you experience any of the following:
- Blood in the urine (hematuria)
- Pain in the abdomen or flank
- Difficulty urinating or changes in urination patterns
- High blood pressure
- A family history of kidney disease
- Suspected kidney stones
- Monitoring a transplanted kidney
- Unexplained protein in the urine (proteinuria)
The Functioning of the Kidneys
Our body converts the nutrients in the meal to energy. Waste products are left behind in the blood and colon after the body has consumed the nourishment it needs.
In addition to eliminating urea from the blood, the kidneys and urinary system maintain the proper amounts of water, salt, and other substances. Additionally, our body extracts urea when it breaks down protein-rich foods like meat, poultry, and vegetables. The circulation transports urea to the kidneys.
The two kidneys are in the middle of the back, beneath the ribs, as purplish-brown organs. Additionally, their role is to:
- Remove urine as liquid waste from the blood.
- Maintain a steady equilibrium of various chemicals and salts in the blood
- Generate the hormone erythropoietin, which promotes the production of red blood cells.
- Control blood pressure
Limitations of Renal Ultrasound
While a valuable diagnostic tool, this ultrasound has limitations:
- Limited Visualization: It may not provide detailed information about the internal structure of the kidney tissue.
- Restricted View: Dense tissue or overlying gas in the intestines can sometimes hinder a clear view of the kidneys.
- Specificity: Certain abnormalities may require further investigation with other imaging techniques for definitive diagnosis.
What are the Risks of a Kidney Ultrasound?
When the ultrasonic transducer touches the skin, there is typically minimal discomfort and no usage of radiation.
Risks could exist based on your particular medical condition. Before the treatment, make sure you express any concerns you may have with your physician.
Some elements or circumstances can affect the test’s outcome. Moreover, these consist of the following:
- Extreme obesity
- Barium from a recent barium operation in the intestines
- Gas in the stomach
What do the Results of a Kidney Ultrasound Mean?
You and your healthcare provider will discuss the test results. The information you obtain is specific to your case and based on the ultrasound’s purpose. There’s a slim possibility your doctor will request a kidney biopsy, more imaging studies, or kidney function testing.
Your healthcare professional can diagnose you or provide a treatment plan after reviewing test results. Moreover, your provider can answer any questions about your results or what they mean.
