title: Length of normal kidneys in Thai adults.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The length of kidney plays important role in diagnosing chronic kidney diseases. Kidney length can be measured by ultrasound, a cheap, convenient and noninvasive method. There is no report on the length of kidney in healthy Thai people.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To measure the length of normal kidneys in Thai adults volunteers by ultrasonography.
  
  
  METHODS
  Healthy volunteers were recruited and the study was performed from April 2008 to June 2009. All volunteers were examined by the same standard ultrasound machine and the same radiologist throughout the study period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 509 healthy volunteers were enrolled. The average lengths of left and right kidney were 10.24 +/- 0.70 and 10.09 +/- 0.68 cm, respectively. Male kidney was bigger than the female kidney. Kidney length slightly increased until the age of 50 and become smaller at the age of 60 or more. Kidney length showed no correlation with age, body weight, body mass index and body surface area.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The average lengths of left and right kidney were 10.24 +/- 0.70 and 10.09 +/- 0.68 cm, respectively. The length below 9.00 cm may indicate the state of kidney diseases.
authors: Department of Medicine, Rajavithi Hospital, College of Medicine, Raangsit University, Bangkok, Thailand. krairit@yahoo.com
authors: Udom
authors: U
authors: Krairittichai
authors: Siriporn
authors: S
authors: Leehacharoenkul
authors: Jirapong
authors: J
authors: Dowreang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D044466:Asian People; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009929:Organ Size; D012016:Reference Values; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014463:Ultrasonography; D055815:Young Adult