Renal Ultrasound

A Renal Ultrasound produces a picture of both kidneys and the bladder through the use of high frequency sound waves that are displayed in a real time image.

Your doctor may recommend a Renal Ultrasound to help diagnose conditions such as:

• Back pain
• Renal or urinary bladder mass
• History of kidney stones

You will be asked to lie on a comfortable table while the technologist performs the examination. A hand held device called an Ultrasound probe will be moved over the surface of your skin in the area of interest after a liquid gel is placed on the probe and/or your skin. The Ultrasound machine uses sound waves to obtain medical images of various organs and tissues in the body. It is a painless and safe procedure with a typical duration of 30 minutes.

For ultrasound of the kidneys, you may not need any special preparation. You may be asked to drink 4 to 6 glasses of liquid (usually juice or water) about an hour before the test to fill your bladder. You may be asked to avoid eating for 8 to 12 hours before the test to avoid gas buildup in the intestines. Gas could interfere with the evaluation of the kidneys, which lay behind the stomach and intestines.