The qualitative assessment of the echogenicity of the renal cortex and the medulla is one of the most important diagnostic criteria in the assessment of diffuse renal parenchymal disease. It is of interest to complete this assessment by quantitative data. The echogenicity of the cortex and medulla was quantitatively analysed in digitized images. The coefficient of variation of repeated measurements was 0.83% and the coefficient of variation made by two different individuals was 2.03%. The influence of furosemide on the echogenicity of the renal parenchyma was measured in 4 healthy adults. The echogenicity of the renal cortex is after 3 and 6 min significantly increased, while the echogenicity of the medulla remained unchanged. Our study shows that a precise measurement of echogenicity in renal parenchyma is possible. Under the influence of furosemide there will be a significant increase in the echogenicity of the renal cortex.
Quantitative echo intensity measurements enhance the differential diagnosis of focal renal lesions. The differentiation of typical angiomyolipomas to other lesions could be improved.
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