Role of Ultrasonography in the Diagnosis of Solid Renal Masses

Abstract

OVER the past decade, ultrasound (US) has dramatically improved the detection of renal mass lesions. Although simple cysts and angiomyolipomas have specific features on US scan that permit their confident diagnosis (1), the remaining renal mass lesions are often insufficiently characterized by this modality. CT scan and renal arteriography can aid in the characterization of these masses. The aim of this study has been to evaluate the role of US in assessment of patients suspected to have solid renal masses. In this study, we reviewed the gross anatomy of the renal system,

sonographic anatomy of the renal system , pathology of the solid renal masses , US findings of solid renal masses , methods of diagnosis of solid renal masses , clinical , laboratory , radiological , diagnostic ultrasound of the solid renal masses , and also we reviewed the differential diagnosis of solid renal masses

A total of 203 patients were examined in a period of 4 months using standard protocol of examinations in all cases according to the international scanning guidelines and all patients were examined in ( R) lateral . ( L) lateral , supine and prone positions as was needed in individual cases and the protocol of comparing the echopatterns of the kidneys with adjacent organs was always maintained in each and every patient. We discussed our results and found that US was of great value in diagnosing acute appendicitis and it decreases the negative appendectomy rate and improved the clinical outcome. We illustrated 21 representative cases done in our study. We recommend correlation of the US diagnosis with the clinical and laboratory findings and CT study for the appendix in complicated acute appendicitis or negative US findings with strong clinical evidence of acute appendicitis.