Kidney Ultrasound

Kidney Ultrasound - Exactly What Is It?

Kidney ultrasound basically works the same way a sonogram does. Most people, however, are more familiar with sonograms, which use sound waves to create an image of a fetus in the womb. A kidney ultrasound procedure isn't much different. Except a kidney isn't as cute as a baby, of course. 

A kidney ultrasound helps your doctor determine the size, shape, and location of the kidneys. Ultrasound can also be used to measure the efficiency of blood flow around the kidneys. It can also detect kidney stones, cysts, tumors, abscesses, obstructions, fluid collection, and infection within or around the kidneys.

A kidney ultrasound procedure is completely non-invasive, procedure. In fact, some people say it tickles.

How a Kidney Ultrasound Works

We'll skip electronic mechanics in describing the device that's used to produce the kidney ultrasound waves. Suffice it to say the the kidney ultrasound waves penetrate the skin (painlessly, remember) and bounce off the internal organs. By moving the device around and recording the images it produces, your doctor can get a pretty good idea of what's going on inside without actually going inside.

Ultrasound works because different types of body tissue affect the speed at which sound waves travel. This difference produces a picture. A trained eye, like your doctor's, can tell what's going on from what he or she sees.

Kidney ultrasound is especially helpful in instances where other techniques like radiation and contrast dyes might be risky: Someone who has allergies or is pregnant would probably want to avoid such invasive strategies.

Here are some other reasons your doctor might recommend a kidney ultrasound:

• to assist in placement of needles used to take a biopsy (obtain a tissue sample) from the kidneys,
• to drain fluid from a cyst or abscess,
• to place a drainage tube,
• a kidney ultrasound can be used to evaluate the status of a transplanted kidney.

What are the risks?

Generally, a kidney ultrasound is a very low risk procedure. But certain medical conditions and situations may interfere or affect the outcome. These include extreme obesity, intestinal gas, or barium within the intestines from a recent barium procedure.
 

 
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