the diagnostic role of renal size
Last reviewed 01/2018
The determination of renal size may help in the diagnosis of the renal disease.
The main correlations are:
- normal sized kidneys:
- acute tubular necrosis
- acute obstruction
- myeloma
- amyloidosis
- polyarteritis
- bilateral small kidneys:
- chronic renal failure
- bilateral large kidneys:
- amyloidosis
- renal vein thrombosis
- bilateral hydronephrosis
- polycystic disease of the kidney
- acute glomerulonephritis
- acute interstitial nephritis
- kidneys of unequal size (>1.5 cm difference):
- proximal urinary obstruction
- reflux nephropathy
- papillary necrosis (rare)
- renal vascular disease (rare)