Sonography of renal inflammatory disease

The sonographic findings and differential diagnoses of a wide spectrum of acute and chronic renal inflammatory processes are reviewed. These include focal and diffuse forms of bacterial nephritis, pyonephrosis, intra- and extrarenal abscess, renal tuberculosis and fungal infection, xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis, and renal parenchymal malakoplakia. The role of ultrasound in the diagnostic and therapeutic management of patients with these diseases is discussed.