Renal Ultrasound

Renal ultrasound is a painless procedure using sound waves to generate images of the kidneys and bladder. There is no ionizing radiation or intravenous dye.

Indications for renal ultrasound include the evaluation of:

• Hydronephrosis
• Renal obstruction
• Congenital abnormalities of the kidney --ureteropelvic junction (UPJ) obstruction or reflux
• Assessment of the kidneys for masses and stones
• Evaluation for polycystic kidney disease
• Abnormal renal function tests
• Bladder dysfunction and masses

How is it performed?
Renal ultrasound takes approximately 30 minutes. It involves lying down on a table and having warm gel placed on the abdomen while an ultrasound transducer is moved across the abdomen to generate images.