Ultrasonography in kidney transplantation: values and new developments.
Renal transplant is performed on patients with end-stage renal disease. Gray-scale renal sonography combined with color Doppler has become the main noninvasive imaging method for evaluating a kidney transplant, as it provides information about the kidney anatomy and its vascular flow. In this article, we discuss the utility of sonography in renal transplants and describe the ultrasound findings in early and chronic graft pathology. Also, we explain new developments in ultrasound imaging with contrast media and its utility in renal transplantation, proposing that contrast-enhanced sonography be incorporated as a method to evaluate graft status because of its capability to evaluate cortical capillary blood flow.
Jimenez
Carlos
C
Nephrology Service, Hospital Universitario La Paz, 28046 Madrid, Spain. cjimenezm.hulp@salud.madrid.org
Lopez
María Ovidea
MO
Gonzalez
Elena
E
Selgas
Rafael
R
D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D003287:Contrast Media; D004548:Elasticity; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement; D007668:Kidney / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000601:surgery*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000473:pathology*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D012077:Renal Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D012078:Renal Artery Obstruction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D012079:Renal Circulation; D012082:Renal Veins / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D014655:Vascular Resistance
D003287:Contrast Media