Efficacy of sonography as a screening method in renal insufficiency

Ultrasonographic records of 239 patients with unexplained renal insufficiency were reviewed to determine the efficacy of renal ultrasonography as a screening examination. Ninety-five (40%) examinations were normal; 24 (10%) examinations showed no renal lesion, but some important incidental finding was discovered; 120 (50%) examinations showed a renal abnormality, including 24 (10%) that showed bilateral urinary tract obstruction. The discovery of bilateral urinary tract obstruction was of particular importance and, in the majority of cases (16/24), led to some type of definitive interventional procedure. Sonography in patients with renal insufficiency, whether normal or abnormal, provides useful information to the practicing physician with a potentially significant impact on the patient's clinical course.