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Resistive indices in the evaluation of infants with obstructive and nonobstructive pyelocaliectasis

A Vade1, C Dudiak, P McCarthy

  • 1Department of Radiology, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, IL 60153, USA.

Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine : Official Journal of the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine
|May 18, 1999
PubMed

Insights

Renal resistive indices from Doppler sonography are not valuable for diagnosing obstructive uropathy in infants. This study found no significant difference in resistive indices between obstructive and nonobstructive cases in this age group.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Radiology
  • Nephrology
  • Medical Imaging

Background:

  • Renal resistive indices (RI) from duplex Doppler sonography are used to diagnose obstructive uropathy in adults.
  • While higher RIs are normal in children, studies suggest their utility in pediatric obstructive uropathy diagnosis using adult criteria (RI ≥ 0.7).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the effectiveness of Doppler sonography and renal resistive indices in differentiating obstructive from nonobstructive pyelocaliectasis in infants.

Main Methods:

  • The study analyzed 43 infants with significant or bilateral pyelocaliectasis.
  • Renal resistive indices were calculated using duplex Doppler sonography.
  • Comparison of mean RIs and mean inter-kidney RI differences was performed.

Main Results:

  • No significant difference was found in the mean resistive indices between the two kidneys within a single patient.
  • The mean resistive indices did not differ significantly between obstructive and nonobstructive uropathy groups.
  • The mean difference in resistive indices between the two kidneys also showed no significant variation.

Conclusions:

  • Doppler sonography, using renal resistive indices, has no diagnostic value in differentiating obstructive from nonobstructive pyelocaliectasis in infants.
  • Current adult criteria for RI in diagnosing obstructive uropathy are not applicable to infants.

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