The correct ratio of length, width and thickness of the buds. Ultrasound of the kidneys: norm and interpretation of results

In contact with

Classmates

The kidneys are unique organs. During the day, they manage to pass all the blood through themselves hundreds of times and thereby cleanse it from harmful substances, and their health can be assessed by measuring their basic parameters during an ultrasound. Therefore, based on whether the size of the kidney is normal, one can judge its performance.

Every healthy person has 2 kidneys, which are located inside abdominal cavity in the lumbar region. Each of them is bean-shaped and weighs about 150–200 g. However, usually left kidney slightly larger than the right one, which is explained by the presence in right half the body of a fairly large liver, which somewhat impedes the vertical growth of the right bean-shaped organ.

In some cases, even at the stage intrauterine development disruptions occur in the formation internal organs, so sometimes people are born with 1 kidney or, conversely, with double the number of them. But, as a rule, this in no way affects the quality of functioning of the whole organism and its congenital defects patients learn about development during ultrasound examinations for completely different reasons.

Each kidney consists of certain structural elements, the size, clarity of boundaries and shape of which are important diagnostic value. This:

The connective tissue capsule and serous membrane that cover each of these paired organs.
Parenchyma. It is formed by the cortex and medulla. In addition, the parenchyma contains epithelial tubules and special renal corpuscles, which together with numerous blood vessels form nephrons.
Near the nephrons is a funnel-shaped cavity called the pelvis.
The pelvis smoothly passes into the ureter, through which urine already formed in the nephrons is excreted into the bladder, and then into the external environment.

Important: each kidney has about 1 million nephrons, which are their structural units.

Size estimate

It has long been noted that normally, men’s kidneys are not just larger than women’s, but also have a greater width, thickness and length of the cortical layer, which, of course, is explained by the fact that men are naturally larger than women.

In addition, an important parameter in assessing the quality of work of these organs is the patient’s age, since the size of an adult’s kidney remains relatively stable between 25 and 50 years. Therefore, if until the age of 20 or even 25 these organs continue to increase, then after the 50th anniversary there is usually a decrease in their size.

Also, the size of the kidneys is directly proportional to a person’s body mass index. Therefore, as BMI increases, the size of each of the body’s main filters also increases.

But the most important evaluation parameter is not so much the size of each of the kidneys, but their ratio. Normally, the difference between the size of the right and left kidney should not exceed 1.5 cm.

In a healthy adult, the kidney has the following parameters:

length – 80–130 mm;
width – 45–70 mm;
thickness – 40–50 mm.

Attention! Traditionally, the length of the kidney corresponds to the height of the 3 lumbar vertebrae, but in any case the ratio of length to width is always 2:1.

As for children, then for kids different ages other values are typical. So, the average length of a bud is:

0–2 months – 49 mm;
3–12 months – 62 mm;
1–5 years – 73 mm;
5–10 years – 85 mm;
10–15 years – 98 mm;
15–19 years old – 106 mm.

Important: since all children develop differently, it is difficult to accurately establish normal limits for them, therefore, for the most reliable assessment of the condition of the kidneys, when measuring their size, be sure to take into account the child’s weight, height and body type.

Important: in an ordinary healthy person, the size of the kidney is no different from the size of the fist.

Thus, ultrasound can be used to assess the condition of the kidneys. But there is no time to delay in carrying out this painless, accessible and highly informative study, since the sooner the pathology is identified, the greater the chance a person will have that his natural “filters” will be completely restored.

But perhaps it would be more correct to treat not the effect, but the cause?

Parameters and indicators studied

Quantity. A healthy person has two kidneys. There are cases when one is removed surgically due to certain reasons. Possible anomalies in the number of these organs: accessory kidney, complete absence or doubling.
Dimensional data. Using ultrasound, the length, width and thickness of the organ are measured. Kidney size varies depending on a person's age, weight, and height.
Localization. The retroperitoneal location of the organs is normal. The right kidney (D) is located just below the left (L). The normal location is considered right kidney at level 12 thoracic vertebra and 2 lumbar, left - at the level of the 11th thoracic and 1st lumbar vertebrae.
Shape and contours. The bean-shaped shape is considered normal. The structure of the tissue is normal - homogeneous with smooth contours.
The structure of the renal parenchyma, that is, the tissue that fills the organ. In a healthy person, its thickness ranges from 14 to 26 mm. With age, the parenchyma becomes thinner, and for people old age the norm for this indicator is 10-11 mm. An increase in this parameter indicates inflammation or swelling of the organ, a decrease indicates dystrophic changes.
State of blood flow. When analyzing renal blood flow, a color image is used on the monitor of an ultrasound machine. Dark tones indicate that the patient's blood flow is normal (50-150 cm/sec). Bright spots indicate increased renal blood flow.

Ultrasound results in adult women and men

Diagnosis of kidney condition does not differ between people of different genders. The norms of indicators are the same for both men and women. Normal sizes kidneys in women are different during pregnancy. The norm is considered to be lengthening of the organ up to 2 cm; slight expansion is allowed along with the pelvis and ureters. The norm for adults when deciphering the results is as follows: thickness - 40-50 mm, length 100-120 mm, width 50-60 mm, thickness of the functional part - 15-25 mm. The sizes of the right and left kidneys differ, but not more than 2 cm. The normal ultrasound scan of the kidneys in an adult is determined by the height indicator. Using the table below, you can determine the normal size of the kidneys relative to a person's height.

Human kidney anatomy
Standard Kidney Growth Indicators
Factors that influence sizes

The human kidney is special paired organ, the functions of which cannot be taken over by other systems. They cleanse the body of harmful substances by driving blood through themselves. What size should the kidneys be? The size of the kidneys is one of the main indicators when making a diagnosis for various kidney diseases. Normal sizes may vary depending on the age and gender criteria and the person’s weight.

Human kidney anatomy

Topographic anatomy of the kidneys is the following features. This component excretory system, being a paired organ, is projected differently to other organs. The right component of the system is adjacent to the adrenal gland and liver. The left component is in contact with the adrenal gland, stomach and spleen. At the back, both organs are adjacent to the diaphragm.

Each of these elements of the excretory system is covered on top with a special capsule made of connective fibers and serous accessory membrane. The renal parenchyma is formed from the medulla and cortex. The first is approximately 15 pyramids of a conical type with rays at their base. These rays grow into the continuous cortical shell.

Each kidney contains up to 1 million nephrons. They are the main constituent units of these components of the human excretory system. They are formed from tubules, corpuscles and passing blood vessels.

It's called a pelvis special cavity, which takes urine. The ureter receives urine from the pelvis and then sends it to the bladder.

The renal artery is a blood vessel that arises from the aorta. He brings polluted blood. Renal vein is a blood vessel that carries pure blood to the main vein.

Standard Kidney Growth Indicators

The longitudinal size of the organ should be approximately from 80 to 130 mm. In an adult, the length of this internal organ should correspond to the height of three vertebrae lumbar region. The width for men can be up to 70 mm, and the thickness up to 50 mm. For any size, the ratio of length to width should correspond to a clear ratio of 2:1. Since all parameters of height and weight of the stronger sex are often greater than those of women, the size of this component of the excretory system is smaller in the weaker sex.

If we compare the dimensions of human parenchyma with standards, then the thickness should be no less than 15 mm and no more than 25 mm. With increasing age and the development of inflammatory and atherosclerotic processes, the parenchyma may become thinner. In most cases, after 60 years of age, the patient's parenchyma decreases to a size of 11 mm.

To find out all the dimensions of this component of the excretory system, ultrasound is used. If we summarize the information about the structure and size, then with relatively good health the kidneys are approximately the size of a fist.

IN childhood Some difficulties arise with the determination of standardization and normalization of renal parameters due to the fact that children grow and develop individually. To determine the norm, you need to know the weight and height of the child. Approximate values are as follows:

in infants it will be 50 mm;
at 2-3 months it reaches 63 mm;
at 5 years – 75 mm;
at 10 years – 85 mm;
at 15 years old the value is 98 mm;
20 years – 105 mm.

An interesting phenomenon is that an infant has a size to weight ratio that is 3 times greater than an adult.

Factors that influence sizes

In general, the size of the kidneys is affected by a person’s gender, age and weight. Scientists have found that a person's mass index affects overall size, volume, height and height.

It was found that the right organ is smaller than the left, which is due to the fact that the liver prevents its growth.

The size of the organ can increase up to 25 years, after which it stops growing, but after 50-60 years it begins to decrease in size.

In diabetes mellitus or hypertension, renal hypertrophy may occur.

It is very important to monitor the size and functioning of the renal structures, because this paired organ has great importance For normal functioning Total human body.

Of course, its main function is the process of processing blood and removing from its composition substances that have an adverse effect on the body. It provides additional regulation blood pressure, acidity, production of vitamin D and hormones.

Kidney size is one of the diagnostic parameters that allows us to reliably establish some human ailments.

In contact with

Today for diagnosis kidney diseases often used ultrasound examination. It allows you to visualize the shape of the organ, its size, structure, contours, the presence of pathological foci, blood flow supplying the tissues. Our article will tell you what the interpretation of kidney ultrasound is, what indicators indicate the presence of diseases.

Decoding

The kidneys are a paired organ. However, it happens that people have one of them removed for some reason. In this case, the entire load has to be carried out by one kidney. During a kidney ultrasound, the doctor pays attention to the following parameters:

number of organs. In addition to the fact that one kidney occurs, the phenomenon of an additional kidney is possible. There is a pathology in the form double kidneys. In this case, most often the additional organ is undeveloped;
size. Width and length are measured using ultrasound. These parameters vary depending on the patient’s age, height, weight;
location. The norm is the location of the right kidney below the left;
a healthy kidney has a bean-shaped shape with a uniform structure and an even contour;
Normal kidney thickness should be in the range of 14–26 mm. Moreover, the older a person is, the thinner his kidneys are. In older people, the thickness varies from 10 to 11 mm. If this parameter is increased, then this indicates an inflammatory process or swelling; a reduced organ indicates dystrophy;
echogenicity should be homogeneous. With hypoechogenicity, the tissue structure stands out dark spot, with hyperechogenicity - light. In addition, a homogeneous and heterogeneous structure is distinguished. The latter is characterized by alternating increased echogenicity with normal tissue;
Doppler ultrasound will assess blood flow. During the study, a color image is displayed on the monitor. Dark colors they talk about normal blood flow, which varies from 50 to 150 cm per second. Bright colors signal increased blood flow.

Men's and women's sizes

Many people are interested in the question of whether there is a difference in the size of the kidneys in women and men. Normal organ parameters do not change in people of different sexes. However, it is considered normal change parameters in a pregnant woman. The norm can lengthen by 2 cm, and expansion of the pelvis and ureters is also acceptable.

Usually, according to ultrasound in adults, the following kidneys are considered normal:

with a thickness from 40 to 50 mm;
length from 100 to 120 mm;
width from 50 to 60 mm;
functional area thickness from 15 to 25 mm.

The right and left kidneys should not differ from each other by more than 20 mm. Below is the table normal indicators according to the patient's height.

Children's sizes

Kidney ultrasound is often performed to diagnose children. It allows you to determine the presence of congenital anomalies. Most often, the procedure is prescribed if there are complaints of pain in the lower back, lower abdomen, after injuries, or problems with urination. A newborn examination is carried out to exclude anomalies that are associated with heredity, in case of a difficult pregnancy, in serious condition baby at the time of birth.

The study of infants is specific, since their kidneys are not yet fully formed, the development of their structures continues. The doctor must interpret the results based on a table indicating the children’s kidney sizes.

Common pathologies

More often ultrasound diagnostics discovers the following pathologies kidney:

If there is excessive mobility or a displaced state, a diagnosis of nephroptosis is made, which causes impaired renal circulation and increases kidney pressure. The most common diagnosis is prolapse of the right kidney. The left organ descends much less frequently. Most a rare occurrence nephroptosis of both kidneys is considered. If the kidney has dropped by 1.5 vertebrae, then this is a sign of 1st degree of the disease, by 2 vertebrae - 2nd degree, by 3 vertebrae or more - 3rd degree;
when visualizing neoplasms in the form of sand and small stones, a diagnosis of microcalculosis is made;
detection of neoplasms such as cysts and abscesses is determined by low echogenicity of a rounded shape;
traumatic lesions, which can be either open or closed;
uneven contours, limited mobility, enlarged kidneys are manifested in patients with pyelonephritis;
uneven contours, increased echogenicity, reduced blood flow indicates the presence of renal failure;
reduced thickness of the parenchyma, lack of visualization of the hydronephrotic sac indicates the presence of hydronephrosis;
a thick capsule of heterogeneous substance with increased blood flow indicates an abscess.

Changes indicating pathologies

The doctor, based on the average results, makes an assumption about the presence of pathologies based on the following changes:

a decrease in size indicates glomerulonephritis;
increase – hydronephrosis, tumor processes, blood stagnation;
a shift in the location of the kidney indicates nephroptosis;
complete change in localization - dystopia;
enlarged parenchyma - inflammatory process;
reduced parenchyma – renal dystrophy;
poorly visible boundaries – hydronephrosis;
compacted tissues visible in a light shade are a sign of glomerulonephritis, pyelonephritis;
darkened tissues indicate cysts;
compaction of the pelvis is a sign of a benign or malignant tumor;
an enlarged renal calyx indicates ICD.

Preparation

To obtain the most reliable information, you need to pay attention to preparatory activities. Before the procedure, it is important not to eat for 6 hours. For 3 days you should avoid eating foods that cause increased gas formation. It is also not recommended to smoke, suck candy, or chew gum immediately before an ultrasound.

In addition, in order to properly prepare, you should drink at least 1 liter an hour before the procedure. clean water. Filling the bladder will help improve the ultrasound and improve the quality of the examination. Women during pregnancy can have their kidneys diagnosed by ultrasound, this procedure does not have a detrimental effect on the fragile body of the fetus.

For information, if the transcript indicates increased pneumatosis, then this is considered a sign increased gas formation. This circumstance is evidence that the preparation for the procedure was poorly carried out. Ultrasound is quite informative method diagnosing the condition of the renal apparatus. It allows you to identify many diseases at their initial stage of manifestation.

The human kidney is a unique paired organ that continuously cleanses the blood of substances harmful to the human body. The size of the kidney is normal - this is one of the most important diagnostic parameters. They vary depending on age, gender and body mass index.

Anatomy of the human kidney

Let's look at the main structural elements kidneys:

The kidney is covered with a thin connective tissue capsule and serosa(front).
The kidney parenchyma consists of the cortex and medulla. The cortex is located in a continuous layer under the renal capsule. Brain matter- these are 10-18 conical pyramids with medullary rays located at the base, growing into the cortex. The renal parenchyma is represented by epithelial tubules and renal corpuscles, which together with blood vessels form nephrons (up to 1 million in each kidney).
The structural unit of the kidney is the nephron.
The funnel-shaped cavity that receives urine from the nephron is called the pelvis.
The organ that receives urine from the renal pelvis and transports it to the bladder is called the ureter
The blood vessel that branches from the aorta and brings blood contaminated with waste products to the kidneys is called the renal artery, and the vessel that delivers filtered blood to the vena cava is called the renal vein.

Kidney size assessment

What factors influence kidney size?

Numerous studies have found that the thickness, width and length of the cortical layer, as well as the size of the kidney in men are much larger than in women. This is due to the fact that representatives of the stronger sex have body sizes that exceed those of the female body.

At the same time, the researchers found an insignificant difference between the lengths of the right and left kidney (the left kidney is on average 5% larger than the right). According to experts, the vertical growth of the right kidney is hampered by the liver.

Also affects the size of the adult kidney big influence age. The kidneys “grow” until the age of twenty to twenty-five, then they remain relatively stable throughout middle age, and after fifty years they begin to decline.

How does body mass index affect kidney size?

During the research, it was found that kidney size is closely related to body mass index (BMI). With an increase in BMI, not only the size of the kidneys increases, but also their volume, height and height.

Note: if you develop hypertension or diabetes mellitus Kidney hypertrophy develops.

Normal adult kidney size

The longitudinal size of the kidney of an adult is on average 100-120 mm (more precisely, from 80 to 130 mm). As a rule, the length of the kidney corresponds to the height of three lumbar vertebrae, the width is in the range of 45-70 mm, and the thickness is 40-50 mm.

Note: no matter what size the bud is, its length to width ratio is 2:1.

In young people, the normal size of the kidney parenchyma (its thickness) ranges from 15-25 mm. With age, as a result of atherosclerotic processes or inflammation, its thinning occurs, and in people over sixty years of age, the thickness of the parenchyma often does not exceed 11 mm. To assess the structure of the kidney in clinical practice The parenchymopyelic index is used.

I would like to note that the size of a healthy person’s kidney does not exceed the size of his fist.

Kidney structure

Kidney size in children

It should be noted that all children develop differently, and therefore difficulties arise in determining the size of the kidneys in childhood. However, during the research, scientists were able to determine the average length of the kidneys based on age:

From birth to two months, the kidney size is 49 mm;
From three months to one year – 62 mm;
From one to five years – 73 mm;
From five to ten years – 85 mm;
From ten to fifteen years - 98 mm;
From fifteen to nineteen years - 106 mm.

With more precise definition The size of a child’s kidney takes into account his weight and height.

Interesting fact: Babies have kidneys, relative to body weight, that are three times larger than adults.

Basic kidney functions

The main function of the kidneys is to cleanse the blood of waste and toxic substances. The most harmful waste products of the human body are urea and uric acid. Cluster large quantity these substances cause the development of numerous severe pathologies, and this can also lead to fatal outcome. During the filtration process, the renal parenchyma cleanses the body of waste (they are collected in the pelvis and transported to the bladder).

An interesting fact: the kidney parenchyma manages to completely cleanse the blood about fifty times per day.

The main functions of the kidneys include:

Urine formation. Thanks to the kidneys, excess water, organic and inorganic substances, as well as nitrogen metabolism products and toxins are removed from the body;
Maintaining a normal water-salt balance (due to fluid excreted in the urine);
Regulation blood pressure(due to the secretion of renin, excretion of water and sodium, as well as depressor substances);
Regulation of pH levels;
Hormone production;
Vitamin D production;
Regulation of hemostasis (formation of humoral regulators of blood coagulation, as well as participation in heparin metabolism);
Regulation of erythropoiesis;
Metabolic function (participation in the metabolism of proteins, carbohydrates and lipids);
Protective function (removal of foreign and toxic substances from the body).

Note: with the development of various pathological conditions renal excretion is often impaired medicines, and therefore patients may experience side effects and even poisoning.

Renal pelvis: description

Return to contents

Parameters: norm and deviations

Return to contents

Normal in children

Return to contents

Fetal parameters

Diseases

Return to contents

Pyeelectasis

Hypotension

Return to contents

Hydronephrosis

A condition in which the renal pelvis is enlarged and structural changes tissue is called hydronephrosis. There are acquired and congenital. The latter is caused by abnormalities that cause narrowing of the ureter. Acquired diseases of the urinary system:

oncological neoplasms; vesicoureteral reflux; trauma; urolithiasis; fetal pressure on surrounding organs in pregnant women.

Symptoms of hydronephrosis include painful sensations in the lumbar region of a dull and aching nature. Sometimes observed renal colic, blood and other impurities in it (acetone, protein) sometimes appear in the urine. Treatment consists of surgical intervention and eliminating the cause, which is an obstacle to the full outflow of urine from the body.

Return to contents

Kidney stone

The left and right kidneys are susceptible to the formation of stones in the pelvis, which enter the body year after year nutrients And bad condition metabolism. The growth of some is within minimal limits, which allows them to easily exit the body in urine. Others reach critical dimensions and lead to blockage of the pelvis, followed by rupture of the kidney.

Return to contents

Cyst formations

A rare pathology for the renal pelvis is a cyst, which has an oblong outline and is usually located in the lumen of the renal pelvis. The internal filling of cysts is liquid, which is limited on the outside by a connective tissue capsule. Such formation leads to the fact that urine is poorly drained, as a result of which an infectious process occurs in the affected organ.

Why they form is still completely unknown, but there is an opinion that this is facilitated by infection or kidney damage, less often - heredity or congenital anomalies development. The course of the disease is often not accompanied visible symptoms, therefore, it is possible to clearly determine them only when passing preventive examinations. As the tumor grows, the following may appear:

stupid or nagging pain in the lumbar region; frequent urination, sometimes with pain; fever; pain in muscles and joints.

Standard methods for determining this disease are x-rays, tomography, ultrasound, general blood and urine tests. Treatment of an ordinary cyst does not require the intervention of a doctor, but complications require additional intervention in the form of operations of a specific nature. It is even possible to remove a kidney if a tumor has ruptured, for example, the right kidney, or a malignant process has joined.

Return to contents

Calyx with tumor

Tumor in renal pelvis develops slowly, and its first symptoms are blood in the urine and lumbar pain.

The normal size of the kidneys can increase due to tumors of the renal pelvis, which are extremely rare. The incidence is 1.4% per thousand males and 0.6% per thousand females per year. But the beginning of each year is marked by the growth of this percentage due to improved diagnostics. Therefore, doctors advise undergoing annual examinations.

The first manifestations of tumor formations in the kidney are blood in the urine, lower back pain, sudden weight loss, frequent nausea and vomiting. The reasons for the appearance of this symptomatology include: bad habits(smoking, alcohol), uncontrolled use of medications, love of smoked meats and fatty foods. If a tumor is suspected, the doctor does:

palpation of the abdomen; checks blood and urine tests; ultrasound examination; tomography. Return to contents

Anomaly: double pelvis

Sometimes there are cases when a double renal sinus is observed. The kidney has two pelvises, which form two systems with separate ureters connecting them to bladder. The double pelvis acquires such forms even at the stage of fetal development under the influence of teratogenic factors (radiation, hormones, etc.). Normal healthy man may not be aware of the presence of such an anomaly for many years before a random examination of the organs of this system. Treatment comes down to taking specialized medications, less often surgical intervention.

Return to contents

Injuries and damage

Rupture of the renal pelvis is accompanied by the release of urine into the perinephric space, and then spreading through psoas muscle. The HSV test shows that kidney function and heart rate are normal. Very often the rupture is diagnosed as a small tear of the kidney, which is erroneous. The gap is confirmed at retrograde pyelography. The most dangerous is spontaneous, which is a consequence of advanced hydronephrosis. The consequences of such a process pose a real threat to the patient’s life.

Human kidney - important organ, performing the functions of a kind of filter for the body, and the renal pelvis and calyces are unified system, functioning inside of this body. This component is a kind of sedimentation tank for secondary body fluid, which then enters the ureter for subsequent excretion.

The renal pelvis is the area of the organ where important processes filtration and storage of liquids.

Renal pelvis: description

The renal pelvis is a cavity whose main function is to collect urine, the formation of which occurs in the kidney. In appearance, it resembles a funnel formed by a small and large calyx, each of them has a narrowing - a neck, which is a kind of connecting element of the pelvis and the calyx system. Any violations in the form of blockages lead to an increase in this component.

The renal pelvis has a body: muscular organ, covered from the inside with a mucous membrane, the walls of which are endowed with longitudinal and transverse smooth muscles. This structure provides contractile movements of the pelvis to move along urinary tract liquids. One of the main features of the walls is their impermeability to all substances.

Return to contents

Parameters: norm and deviations

In medicine, there are generally accepted standards for the size of the pelvis for everyone age categories of people. From the fetus to the elderly, there are boundaries within which the parameters of the renal pelvis vary. Any deviations indicate the presence of a particular disease, timely detection which will help you start treatment and avoid negative consequences and complications.

Return to contents

Adult sizes (+ during pregnancy)

The normal size of the renal pelvis in an adult should not exceed 10 mm. In women during pregnancy, the pelvis is enlarged, which is considered normal for this state. In the first trimester, the size of both pelvis reaches 18 mm, and in latest dates- 27 mm. The main reasons for enlargement in the absence of pregnancy are:

tumors; bending or twisting of the urinary tract; stones in the ureters.

Return to contents

Normal in children

In children, the pelvis is smaller - 6 mm, less often - 7-8 mm. Exceeding this norm indicates a disease such as pyeloectasia, which practically does not manifest itself. visible signs. In newborns, this figure ranges from 7-10 mm, and any deviation beyond these limits requires consultation for the child with a specialized specialist.

Return to contents

Fetal parameters

Kidneys begin to form in the womb and this process continues after birth. Starting from 17-20 weeks, the doctor can examine the fetal urinary organs and give a tentative assessment of their condition. Their size returns to normal after six months of life. In view of this fact, the fetus does not have clear boundaries of the pelvis; there are approximate ones:

4 mm at up to 32 weeks; 7 mm at 36 weeks; more than 10 mm - a signal for treating the disease after the birth of the baby.
Diseases of the renal pelvis can be congenital or acquired in nature. Return to contents

Diseases

Human kidney diseases have become common for a number of reasons (e.g. sedentary image life, unbalanced diet), which lead to illness, which subsequently becomes firmly entrenched in the individual’s life. Women are more often at risk, but the male half of humanity should not forget that even a seemingly harmless disease can lead to irreparable consequences for the body. Kidney pathologies are divided into congenital and acquired.

Return to contents

Pyeelectasis

Violation of the structure of the renal pelvis may be a consequence of urolithiasis or pyelonephritis.

Forms of the renal pelvis, under the influence of certain reasons, can acquire an abnormal expansion, called in medicine pyelectasia. Its presence serves as evidence of a violation of the outflow of urine from the kidneys in both children and older people. This disease is one of the prerequisites for stagnation of urine and can lead to an inflammatory process in part of the genitourinary system.

Very often the pelvis is enlarged (dilated) in children of all ages, this is especially true for boys. The disease can affect the right or left pelvis, less often both at once. This disease is often concomitant with diseases such as:

wandering kidney syndrome; prostate neoplasm; congenital anomaly; chronic pyelonephritis; urolithiasis. Return to contents

Hypotension

Hypotension is a process of decreased tone in the renal pelvis, the causes of which include:

hormonal imbalances accompanied by loss of sexual activity; exposure to acute or chronic pathologies infectious nature with general intoxication; congenital anomalies; prolonged emotional stress and stress; anatomical features of the body; disruptions in the central nervous system; damage to the upper urinary canals.

Hypotension has no obvious clinical symptoms, since it does not affect the passage of urine and does not complicate this process. Similar complications They can be congenital, so even a newborn may develop an inferior muscular layer of the pelvis and reduce its tone. To make a diagnosis of hypotension, it is necessary to undergo a series of studies and pass the appropriate tests.

In most cases, ultrasound can be called a fully informative and sufficient diagnostic method to determine and prescribe adequate treatment, including excluding pathologies during screening examinations. The price of a kidney ultrasound is quite reasonable; it must be clarified at the reception desk of the medical institution.

Apparatus for conducting ultrasound examinations allows the doctor to determine several important parameters during examination: the state of blood flow, the size of the organ, signs of inflammatory processes, the state of the parenchyma structure, the presence of stones in the cavities, as well as malignant or benign neoplasms.

What indicators are being examined?

Number of kidneys.
Organ dimensions.
Its localization.
Shape and contours.
Structure of the renal parenchyma.
State of blood flow.

Let's consider these parameters in more detail.

Quantity

In this article we will understand how to decipher an ultrasound of the kidneys.

The norm for a person is to have a pair of kidneys, but anomalies can also be found. May be congenital absence one of them is the so-called agenesis (unilateral aplasia). Or the kidney could be removed through surgical intervention. You can also find congenital duplication organ, most often it is unilateral.

Location

The normal location of the kidneys can be called their location on at different levels each other relative to each other. The right one, D, is located at the level of the 2nd lumbar vertebra and the 12th thoracic, and the left, L, is located at the level of the 1st lumbar vertebra and the 11th thoracic.

An ultrasound examination of a woman’s kidney helps to identify nephroptosis (prolapse) or dystopia, that is, its atypical location in the pelvis. Normal form the kidneys are bean-shaped with a smooth contour and a clear view of the fibrous capsule, which is the outer shell of the organ. Normal sizes for pregnant women are different, since during this period the kidney lengthens by two centimeters. A slight expansion of the pelvis and ureter is also permissible.

Adult sizes

The physiological norm for the size of the kidneys in an adult is 40-50 mm in thickness, 50-60 mm in width, 100-120 mm in length. However, these indicators may vary slightly depending on the gender and height of the patient.

The thickness of the parenchyma layer is another important parameter when interpreting kidney ultrasound. The norm is 18-25 mm. Nevertheless this indicator depends on the age of the person. For older people, it may be reduced to 11 mm, which is associated with sclerotic changes. Parenchyma is the tissue in which nephrons, structural and functional units, are located. If its thickness increases, this may indicate inflammation or swelling of the organ, and if it decreases, then we can talk about its dystrophy.

Children's sizes

An ultrasound scan of a newborn baby is necessary if high probability abnormal development of his internal organs due to heredity, difficult pregnancy and childbirth, changes in the baby’s urine. Ultrasound of the kidneys for older children is prescribed after detecting abnormalities in tests, with complaints of pain in the lower back or lower abdomen, due to injury, or with urination problems.

In children, the size of the kidneys depends on height and age. If the height is less than 80 cm, then only 2 parameters are measured: the width and length of the organ. In a child over 100 cm, the thickness of the parenchyma is also measured.

Kidneys increase in size when acute glomerulonephritis or pyelonephritis, as well as in case of loss of pairing, since in this case the organ will experience increased functional load.

When decoding an ultrasound of the kidneys, the norm is to clearly identify the boundaries of the pyramids of the parenchymal layer. Their echogenicity should be lower than that of the parenchyma. If such a difference is not detected during examination, this may indicate hydronephrosis.

Parenchyma echogenicity

This indicator determines the condition and structure renal tissue, which is normally homogeneous.

Echogenicity is the degree of intensity of reflection from tissues sound wave. The reflection is more intense and the image on the monitor is lighter when the parenchyma is denser. In low-density tissues, echogenicity is weak, with visualization in the form of dark areas.

Air and liquids are anechoic. For example, a cavitary cyst containing fluid is described by a specialist as an anechoic formation. Sclerotic processes, on the contrary, are characterized by hyperechogenicity.

CHSL

Or cavity system responsible for performing the urine collection function. Using kidney ultrasound, men are diagnosed the following types changes in it: the presence of calculi (sand, stones), pyelonephritis (inflammatory compaction of the mucous membrane of the pelvis). Also, enlargement of the maxillary tract may indicate calicoectasia, pyelectasia, tumors, ureteral obstruction and hydronephrosis.

The norm for collecting system is its anechoicity. Stones whose size is 4-5 mm or more are described by ultrasound as an echogenic formation. The presence of sand in the organ is called microcalculosis.

Renal blood flow

To visualize blood vessels organ, use duplex scanning, in which the ultrasound scanner produces information in a spectral graph or color image. This technique painless and non-invasive. Therefore, it can be used when examining kidneys in children. Ultrasound determines the condition of the walls of blood vessels, the presence of stenoses and intravascular obstructions, as well as the speed of blood flow. Its normal variation is from 50 to 150 cm/sec.

For a color scheme, dark tones are considered normal, and bright color accelerated blood flow is recorded, indicating the presence of stenosis, the main symptom of which is an increase in velocity in the renal artery (200 cm/sec). The blood flow resistance index is also determined, which depends directly on the person’s age. The older the patient, the higher it is. For the renal artery, the normal value of the resistance index is 0.7, and for the interlobar arteries it is 0.34-0.74.

Detection of pathological damage

Ultrasound is also used to confirm kidney injury. There are 5 categories of injuries to this organ. They differ in the degree of violation:

Decoding the results

Which are given above, should be carried out by a urologist. The conclusion is usually accompanied by a sonogram or an attached ultrasound photo, on which arrows mark the place where the pathological changes. If upon detection vascular changes or tumors, an ultrasound video will be attached, this will help make the correct diagnosis.

Abnormalities detected by ultrasound

The most informative is ultrasound diagnostics when detecting diseases such as damage to the renal vessels, nephroptosis, amyloidosis, organ dystrophy, abscesses, cysts, tumors, hydronephrosis, stone formation, inflammatory processes (glomerulonephritis, pyelonephritis).

When the ultrasound report indicates “severe intestinal pneumatosis,” this means that the examination was uninformative due to flatulence. In this case, the ultrasound will need to be repeated, having previously prepared, that is, by drinking carminative drugs.

Kidney ultrasound: price

Price this study depends entirely on the chosen clinic and region. If an ultrasound is performed on the direction of a doctor, it can be free. In a private specialized center in Moscow average price ranges from 500 rubles to 3500. In the regions, the cost will be slightly lower, but not significantly. You can pay for research from 350 rubles to 2500.

From this article you learned about ultrasound, the norms of its indicators, as well as kidney disorders that can be detected during the examination.