Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 4, 2026

Point-of-Care Kidney and Genitourinary Ultrasound in Adults: Image Acquisition
Published on: June 21, 2024
Polycystic kidney disease: earlier diagnosis using ultrasound
E G Lufkin1, A C Alfrey, M E Trucksess
1Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Medical Center, Denver, Colorado, USA.
Abstract:
A unique family study is presented, representing 124 members in four generations. Sixty-four patients were studied clinically, and 31 were found to have sonographic evidence of polycystic kidney disease. Findings on intravenous urography were positive in only 15 of these 31. Ultrasound is particularly useful in younger patients in whom urinary symptoms and physical and urographic abnormalities are infrequent. The merits of early diagnosis of this disease in persons at risk are discussed. Ultrasound offers definite advantages over standard urographic and isotopic methods in the early diagnosis of polycystic kidney disease.
Related Concept Videos
Imaging Studies II: Ultrasonography
Chronic Kidney Disease I: Introduction
Ultrasound II: Endoscopic Ultrasound and FibroScan
Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS):
Acute Kidney Injury IV: Diagnostic Studies and Prevention
Imaging Studies I: Kidney, Ureter, and Bladder Studies
Imaging Studies V: Intravenous Urography and Retrograde Pyelography

