[Echographic diagnosis of diffuse kidney diseases]

In 24 patients with chronic glomerulonephritis the echographic findings were compared with some basic parameters established by histomorphologic examinations. In the echographic examinations 4 degrees of echogenicity were used (Rosenfield, Hrisak). The conclusion is that there is no typical echographic image for the different morphologically defined renal diseases. The cortical echogenicity depends on the degree of interstitial infiltration, the fibrous and sclerotic changes. The echographic image of the kidney is a mixed reflection of the histomorphologic changes of the glomeruli, tubules and interstice. A long-standing hypertension affects the echographic image by increasing the cortical echogenicity. A careful and thorough echographic examination of patients with chronic glomerulonephritis is obligatory but the basic diagnostic method is the needle renal biopsy.