Renal Ultrasound

Ultrasound bounces sound waves off internal organ structures;
the returning sound waves are picked up and used to create a two-dimensional, real-time image, which may be photographed or videotaped. The test is noninvasive, which means that it doesn’t hurt because there are no needles or tubes. Pictures are made by placing an ultrasound probe in contact with skin over the organ of interest.

Renal (kidney) ultrasound is very good for showing hydronephrosis (suggestive of obstruction or blockage of the kidney), kidney stones or kidney tumor cysts. Renal ultrasound provides important information regarding kidney function and is usually one of the first tests performed during an evaluation.

There is no preparation necessary for the test, except that you should avoid carbonated drinks such as soda or seltzer the day of your test. You must have a full bladder for the test, so try not to urinate until after the ultrasound, or at least not for an hour or two before.

Obesity makes the test more difficult to perform and less accurate.

The ultrasound technician has you lie on a table and squirts sound-conducting clear jelly onto your stomach, over your bladder and kidneys. The technician will run the transducer, which looks like a microphone, over your skin where the jelly is spread. The echoes send images to a video screen. The test will take a total of 30 to 45 minutes. Again, it’s painless.

You can resume your normal activities immediately after the test. There are no side effects.

The technician will not give you the results of your test. They will be sent to your physician, who will notify you of the results.

Courtesy of the National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse