Sonographic-radiographic correlations of renal and perirenal infections

Sonograms of 43 patients with intrinsic and perirenal infectious processes are reviewed. Fourteen had acute pyelonephritis; three, suppurative pyelonephritis; two, focal pyelonephritis; six, renal abscesses; three, infected cysts; six, perinephric abscesses; six, pyonephrosis; and three, chronic pyelonephritis. Sonography had little diagnostic value except for the patients with perinephric abscess. However, it proved valuable as a guide for a percutaneous approach to obtain cells for histologic diagnosis, to obtain fluid to determine chemotherapy, and to perform antegrade pyelography and percutaneous nephrostomy.