title: Value of prior imaging review before ordering renal sonography in the evaluation of abnormal renal function.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To determine the prognostic relevance of prior imaging studies in the evaluation of patients referred for renal ultrasound (US) examination to investigate abnormal renal function tests.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a retrospective study of 208 consecutive renal US examinations performed for abnormal renal function tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  68% (142/208) of patients reviewed for the study had prior abdominal imaging with 15% (21/142) receiving that imaging within 1 month prior to the renal US study and 56% (80/142) within the prior year. Of all patients with prior imaging studies, only 6/142 (4%) demonstrated any significant interval change, with development of hydronephrosis, which was also clinically evident as a substantial rise in serum creatinine level.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Review of prior imaging studies, in addition to other pertinent clinical data, should result in a significant reduction in the number of unnecessary renal US examinations performed in patients with abnormal renal function. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound 45:537-541, 2017.
authors.affiliation: Christiana Care Health System, Department of Radiology, 4755 Ogletown-Stanton Road, Newark, DE, 19718.
authors.forename: Timothy J
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4059-5104
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Niesen
authors.affiliation: Christiana Care Health System, Department of Radiology, 4755 Ogletown-Stanton Road, Newark, DE, 19718.
authors.forename: Nathan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Finch
authors.affiliation: Christiana Care Health System, Department of Radiology, 4755 Ogletown-Stanton Road, Newark, DE, 19718.
authors.forename: Mandip
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gakhal
authors.affiliation: Christiana Care Health System, Department of Internal Medicine, 4755 Ogletown-Stanton Road, Newark, DE, 19718.
authors.forename: Robert M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Dressler
authors.affiliation: Christiana Care Health System, Department of Radiology, 4755 Ogletown-Stanton Road, Newark, DE, 19718.
authors.forename: Howard M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Levy
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006869:Hydronephrosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D007668:Kidney / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007677:Kidney Function Tests; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: genitourinary system; hydronephrosis; kidney; renal failure; sonography