UNILATERAL HYDRONEPHROSIS IN INFANTS - ARE MEASUREMENTS OF CONTRALATERAL-RENAL LENGTH USEFUL

Purpose: We investigated a whether measurement of contralateral renal length in newborns with unilateral hydronephrosis may help to assess c linically significant hydronephrosis in the affected kidney. Materials and Methods: We reviewed our experience with 53 newborns who had unil ateral hydronephrosis presumed secondary to ureteropelvic junction obs truction. We divided the patients according to the presence of mild hy dronephrosis and no obstruction on a furosemide renogram, severe hydro nephrosis and obstruction on a furosemide renogram or a unilateral mul ticystic kidney. Results: We found no significant correlation between findings on the affected and opposite normal sides. Contralateral hype rtrophy, hypotrophy and normal sized kidneys were frequent findings. C onclusions: We conclude that measurement of contralateral renal length is not helpful in the evaluation of newborns with unilateral hydronep hrosis.