Sonographic appearance of cytomegalovirus nephritis in a neonate

In adults and children increased renal cortical echogenicity on ultrasound examination is now well recognized as a feature of renal parenchymal disease due to a variety of etiologies. The degree of echogenicity appears related to the severity of the renal disease, histologically. The sonographic renal pattern of the neonate and in particular, of the premature, differs generally from that of the adult in that the renal cortex of the very young may be "normally" more echogenic than in later life. Marked cortical echogenicity however, is a sign of renal parenchymal disease even in the premature, as illustrated in the case that follows with documented cytomegalovirus nephritis.