Determination of renal volume by ultrasound scanning

Abstract

In patients with renal hypertension, determination of renal volume may be valuable for evaluating possible compensatory hypertrophy for correlating renal size to renal function, and for evaluating the transplanted kidney in relation to rejection and its response to therapy. We performed parallel transverse ultrasonic scans through each kidney and computed volume based on the cross-sectional areas outlined on the scans. In 16 autopsy studies a highly significant correlation between calculated and true values were obtained, rs = 0.847, p less than 0.001. The 5th and 95th percentiles of the median divergence were -21 and 27 ml respectively. In 30 healthy subjects, double determinations showed 5th and 95th percentiles of the median interobserver variation of -7 and 3 ml respectively. There was no demonstrable difference between volumes of right and left kidneys, and no difference in relation to sex. Total renal volume was most accurate when correlated with the body weight, rs = 0.698, p less than 0.001. Normal values of total renal volume per kilogram of body weight were 4.3 to 8.0 ml/kg. In normal subjects, the smallest kidney's volume should not be less than 37% of the total renal volume.

Increased kidney size, glomerular filtration rate and renal plasma flow in short-term insulin-dependent diabetics

“…The accuracy (i. e. the closeness of the measured values to the true values) of the present applied ultrasound technique for volume determination has been investigated previously in a series of autopsy studies on 16 kidneys [3]. The difference between the calculated and the true kidney volume was 1 ml, expressed as the mean value.…”

“…Determination of the renal volume was performed by ultrasound scanning as described by Rasmussen et al [3]. The kidney volume was measured twice within one hour in each subject.…”

“…The subjects were examined in the prone position. Previous ultrasound studies have revealed no significant difference in volumes of the two kidneys [3] and therefore only the right kidney was examined because of the easiest accessibility by ultrasound. The upper and lower poles of the kidney were outlined on transverse scans on a storage oscilloscope.…”

“…The transverse scans were taken at 1 cm intervals. The kidney volumes were calculated based upon the areas of the transverse scans by means of a computerized programme [3].…”

Sodium-lithium countertransport and cardiorenal abnormalities in essential hypertension.

“…28 The volume of both kidneys was measured, and the mean of the two values was used for calculations.…”