Research and Reports in Urology (Oct 2021)
What are the Optimal Renal Ultrasound Parameters for Detecting Small Kidney in Young Children?
Abstract
Masafumi Kon,1 Michiko Nakamura,1 Kimihiko Moriya,1,2 Yoko Nishimura,1 Yurie Hirata,1 Mutsumi Nishida,3 Madoka Higuchi,1 Takeya Kitta,1 Nobuo Shinohara1 1Department of Renal and Genitourinary Surgery, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan; 2Department of Urology, Sapporo City General Hospital, Sapporo, Japan; 3Diagnostic Center for Sonography and Division of Laboratory and Transfusion Medicine, Hokkaido University Hospital, Sapporo, JapanCorrespondence: Kimihiko MoriyaDepartment of Urology, Sapporo City General Hospital, 1-1 North 11, West 13, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, 060-8604, JapanTel +81-11-726-2211Fax +81-11-726-7912Email [email protected]: Recent guidelines do not recommend routine screening of vesicoureteral reflux after a first febrile urinary tract infection in children without abnormal findings on ultrasound or atypical/recurrent urinary tract infection. Currently, there are no clear ultrasonographic parameters for detecting abnormalities in renal size, especially in young children. The aim of the present study was to determine an optimal cutoff value for detecting small kidney in children without apparent congenital anomalies except vesicoureteral reflux by retrospective chart review.Patients and Methods: Children aged ≤ 3 years who had undergone nuclear renal scans and ultrasound were enrolled. Small kidney was defined as split renal function of < 40%. Optimal cutoff values of various ultrasonographic parameters for detecting small kidney were calculated.Results: Of the 69 children included in the present study, small kidney was identified in 20. There was a significant difference in renal size between each kidney in patients with small kidney, whereas there was no significant difference in those without small kidney. With a ratio of estimated renal area of 74.26%, maximum area under the curve with the highest sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy rate were obtained. In addition, simple measurement of renal length with a cutoff of 4.97 cm showed high specificity comparable with estimated renal area.Conclusion: Small kidney may be screened by two-dimensional measurement on ultrasonographic examination, even in young children. With the cutoff described, risk stratification or an individualized approach may be possible.Keywords: small kidney, ultrasound, screening, cutoff value
