title: Reference ranges of kidney dimensions in term newborns: sonographic measurements.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ultrasonographic measurement of kidney dimensions is important in evaluation of renal disease during the neonatal period, when renal abnormalities are common and renal size rapidly changes with age.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the reference ranges of kidney dimensions in newborns and to provide a reference chart for daily practice.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this prospective study, kidney dimensions were evaluated in 385 healthy newborns with a gestational age ≥37 weeks. Each neonate seen at an obstetrics clinic and neonatal intensive care unit was examined with sonography within the first week of life. Relationships of all dimensions with gender, gestational age, height and weight were statistically analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All dimensions of the kidneys were smaller in girls than in boys (P < 0.05). The dimensions of the left kidney were larger than those in the right kidney in both genders (P < 0.01). Longitudinal and anteroposterior dimensions of the right and left kidneys showed no correlation with the gestational age in either gender. The dimensions correlated with the height in boys (P < 0.01), while no correlation was seen between the dimensions and height in girls (P < 0.05). Weight had the best correlation with all dimensions in both genders.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The reference values of kidney lengths and diagrams from this study may be useful in the sonographic evaluation of kidneys in newborns.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Neonatology Clinic, Adiyaman University, School of Medicine, Kahta Street, 02000, Adiyaman, Turkey, ayerdemir@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Aydin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Erdemir
authors.forename: Zelal
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Kahramaner
authors.forename: Bilal
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Arik
authors.forename: Gokmen
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bilgili
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tekin
authors.forename: Yeliz
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Genc
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007668:Kidney / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size / Q000502:physiology*; D012016:Reference Values; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012737:Sex Factors; D014421:Turkey; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000592:standards*