RENAL DUPLEX-DOPPLER ULTRASOUND - AN ADJUNCT IN THE EVALUATION OF HYDRONEPHROSIS IN THE CHILD

We used renal duplex Doppler ultrasound to evaluate 28 hydronephrotic pediatric kidneys. A total of 28 normal renal units was used as contro ls. Renal Doppler ultrasound findings were compared with drainage valu es obtained with renal scintigraphic diuretic renography, and demonstr ated close correlation. In control units significantly different resis tive index values were noted between patients 0 to 12 months old and t hose older than 1 year. The younger group had average resistive indexe s of 0.66, while the older group had an average value of 0.57 (p <0.00 1). In hydronephrotic kidneys resistive index values were significantl y higher (0.83) in renal units with obstructive T1/2 values on diureti c renography compared to those with indeterminate or nonobstructive T1 /2 values (0.63) (p <0.001). Renal Doppler ultrasound correlates close ly with diuretic renography in hydronephrotic systems in infants and i n older children. Additionally, it provides an early, noninvasive moda lity of assessing the dilated upper tract in infants and older childre n. Therefore, renal Doppler ultrasound is a reliable adjunct in identi fying obstructed renal units.