SONOGRAPHIC EVALUATION OF RENAL APPEARANCE IN 665 ADULT VOLUNTEERS - CORRELATION WITH AGE AND OBESITY

The purpose of this study was to investigate the sonographic appearanc e of the normal adult kidney. Parenchymal echogenicity, pyramid visibi lity, and transverse pelvis diameter of the kidneys were prospectively determined in an age- and sex-stratified random sample of 665 volunte ers 30, 40, 50, 60, and 70 years old. Furthermore, incidences of kidne y stones and split sinus echo were determined. The relation between ob esity and above-mentioned parameters was evaluated. In the 30-year-old age group the right kidney was isoechoic as compared to the liver in 1/3, and had clearly or faintly visible pyramids in 2/3 of the cases. These rates decreased gradually with increasing age. Transverse diamet er of renal pelvis greater-than-or-equal-to 10 mm was observed in 13% of participants. Renal stones were observed in 2.1%. The incidence of split sinus echo was 3.6%. Obese participants showed lower incidences of isoechogenicity, pyramid visibility, pelvic ectasia, and split sinu s echo. Isoechoic parenchyma, clearly visible pyramids, and transverse pelvis diameter greater-than-or-equal-to 10 mm are not uncommon sonog raphic findings in normal adult kidneys and should not be used as indi cators of renal pathology.