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Point-of-Care Kidney and Genitourinary Ultrasound in Adults: Image Acquisition
Published on: June 21, 2024
Acute focal nephritis: its true sonographic face
Valeria Rathaus1, Myriam Werner
1Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Meir Medical Center, Kfar Saba, Israel. rathaus@bezeqint.net
The Israel Medical Association Journal : IMAJ
|November 9, 2007
Summary
Acute focal nephritis, an inflammation of the kidney, commonly appears as a hyperechoic (brighter) area on ultrasound. This finding is more frequent than previously thought in patients with acute pyelonephritis.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Radiology
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Acute focal nephritis is a kidney inflammation, a stage between simple pyelonephritis and abscesses.
- Previously, a hyperechoic ultrasound appearance was considered rare for this condition.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the prevalence of hyperechoic and hypoechoic focal renal lesions in acute pyelonephritis.
- To correlate ultrasound findings with color Doppler examinations.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 367 patient sonograms with acute pyelonephritis diagnosis.
- Analysis of focal lesion echogenicity, location, shape, and color Doppler characteristics.
Main Results:
- 78 patients (21.3%) showed abnormal ultrasound findings.
- 52 patients had focal lesions, with 47 (90.4%) appearing hyperechoic.
- Hyperechoic lesions were often upper pole, wedge-shaped, and hypo/avascular on Doppler.
Conclusions:
- The most common ultrasound finding in acute focal nephritis is increased echogenicity.
- This suggests hyperechoic lesions are the typical presentation, contrary to prior beliefs.
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