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Renal Ultrasound

(Ultrasound, Renal)

by Editorial Staff and Contributors

Home | Health Information Center | Procedure & Surgery Fact Sheets | Article

Definition

Reasons for Test

Possible Complications

What to Expect

Call Your Doctor

En Español

Definition

This test uses sound waves to study the urinary system. The urinary system includes the kidneys, bladder, and ureters. Ureters are the tubes that connect the kidneys to the bladder.

Reasons for Test

The test is done to look for:

Changes in the kidneys, bladder, and ureters
Changes in kidney size or structure
Kidney stone —cyst, mass, or other obstruction in the kidney
Stones in the urinary tract
Changes in the ureters

The test is also done to look at:

Kidneys before doing a renal biopsy, which removes tissue from the kidney for examination
Blood flow to the kidneys using a Doppler ultrasound

Urinary System with Stones

Possible Complications

There are no complications associated with this test.

What to Expect

Prior to Test

Your doctor may do a physical exam.
You must have a full bladder for the test. Do not empty your bladder until after the ultrasound.

Description of Test

You will lie on a table. A gel will be put on your belly over your bladder and kidneys. The gel helps the sound waves travel between the machine and your body.

The ultrasound machine has a hand-held instrument called a transducer. It looks like a microphone or wand. The transducer is pushed against your skin where the gel was applied. The transducer sends sound waves into your body. The waves bounce off your internal organs and echo back to the transducer. The echoes are converted into images that are shown on a screen. The images are examined. A photograph of them may be made.

After Test

The gel will be wiped from your belly.

How Long Will It Take?

30-45 minutes

Will It Hurt?

Results

Your images will be viewed by your doctor or radiologist. Problems in your organs may be detected. Blockages may be seen in the ureters. In this case, more tests may be done to find the exact problem and cause.

Call Your Doctor

Call your doctor if you have any questions about the test, your condition, or your test results.

RESOURCES:

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
https://www.niddk.nih.gov

National Kidney Foundation
https://www.kidney.org

CANADIAN RESOURCES:

Health Canada
https://www.canada.ca

The Kidney Foundation of Canada
https://kidney.ca

References:

Imaging of the urinary tract. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases website. Available at:
...(Click grey area to select URL)
Updated May 24, 2012. Accessed September 7, 2017.

Nephrolithiasis. EBSCO DynaMed Plus website. Available at: http://www.dynamed.com/topics/dmp~AN~T114904/Nephrolithiasis . Updated July 17, 2017. Accessed September 7, 2017.

Last reviewed September 2018 by EBSCO Medical Review Board Adrienne Carmack, MD
Last Updated: 05/28/2014

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