[Ultrasound and color Doppler applications in nephrology. The normal kidney: anatomy, vessels      and congenital anomalies].
Gray-scale ultrasound is the diagnostic technique of choice in patients with suspected         or known renal disease. Knowledge of the normal and abnormal sonographic morphology of the kidney         and urinary tract is essential for a successful diagnosis. Conventional sonography must always be         complemented by Doppler sampling of the principal arterial and venous vessels. B-mode scanning is         performed with the patient in supine, prone or side position. The kidney can be imaged by the anterior,        lateral or posterior approach using coronal, transverse and oblique scanning planes. Morphological parameters that must be evaluated are the coronal diameter, the parenchymal thickness and echogenicity, the structure  and state of the urinary tract, and the presence of congenital anomalies that may mimic a pseudomass.  The main renal artery and the hilar-intraparenchymal branches of the arterial and venous vessels should  be accurately evaluated using color Doppler. Measurement of intraparenchymal resistance indices (IP, IR)  provides an indirect and quantitative parameter of the stiffness and eutrophic or dystrophic remodeling  of the intrarenal microvasculature. These parameters differ depending on age, diabetic and hypertensive  disease, chronic renal glomerular disease, and interstitial, vascular and obstructive nephropathy.
Scuola Superiore S. Anna, Pisa, Italy. mmeola@int.med.unipi.it
Mario
M
Meola
Ilaria
I
Petrucci
Lisa
L
Giovannini
Sara
S
Samoni
Carolina
C
Dellafiore
D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D009398:Nephrology; D012077:Renal Artery / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D012082:Renal Veins / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014463:Ultrasonography