What does USG stand for Ultrasound ?
USG in medicine stands for Ultrasound sonography test . The USG technique is used for many reasons ,done basically to diagnose internal organs with any kind of disease or ultrasound is an imaging test that with the help of sound waves creates a picture (that is a sonogram) of underlying organs, tissues, and other structures.
Ultrasound sonography particularly does not use any kind of harmful radiation. There are actually two categories of ultrasound, the first, pregnancy ultrasound which is used to look after the conditions of an unborn child, to track their progress and the other type of ultrasound is diagnostic ultrasound which is used to view and diagnose other internal parts of the body, that is, heart, blood vessels,liver, bladder, kidneys, and other reproductive parts.
Are there any risks in using the USG test?
No risks have been reported while using the USG technique in fact, it helps to view the internal organs very clearly, which may not be possible with Other techniques used.
What is a kidney ultrasound?
- Kidney ultrasound or renal ultrasonography is the examination of kidneys with the help of medical ultrasound. It is essential for the kidneys to diagnose and manage kidney related problems. Most of the pathological changes in the renal part are clearly distinguishable with ultrasound.
- Renal ultrasonography shows more than 98% accuracy in determining the conditions of kidneys and 100% accuracy in identifying complicated cysts, polycysts or other kinds of extra renal lesions as well.
What does a kidney ultrasound show?
A kidney ultrasound has a wide application in medicine. It is used to assess the size, location, and shape of kidneys as well as structures related to them such as ureters and bladders. An ultrasound of the kidney can easily detect cysts, tumors, abscesses, fluid retention, and obstructions within the areas of the kidneys.
What should you do before going for an ultrasound of the kidneys?
- Drink at least 24 ounces of clear fluid, one hour before your appointment.
- Do not empty your bladder prior to the check up.
- Do not for certain preparations such as fasting or sedation.
- Follow the protocols of the hospital and avoid wearing any kind of jewellery or other objects that may interfere with the scan.
What are the risk factors associated with a kidney ultrasound?
- In a kidney ultrasound, there is no radiation used and causes no discomfort while applying ultrasound transducer to the skin as well.
- However, there may be some risks associated depending upon the patient’s specific medical condition.
- Some conditions of the patients may interfere with the results of the test , some of which are severe obesity , intestinal gas , and barium within the intestines.
Use of Ultrasound sonography in kidney disease
- Ultrasound sonography is very useful in many aspects in the management of kidney disease . Nephrologists conduct these studies to clinically correlate to its interpretation.
- Sonography is performed in all patients with chronic kidney disease to recognise the stages of a kidney disease that would obviate any kind of additional workup including biopsy.
- Sonography identifies specific causes of kidney problems such as urinary obstruction , polycystic kidney disease , reflux nephropathy and intestinal nephritis.
- Along with chronic kidney disease , sonography is also useful in acute renal failures and its use should be limited to patients where cause is not apparent or where urinary obstruction is possible. It is also helpful in recognising the unrecognised Chronic kidney disease.
- Ultrasound sonography is also used in identifying cystic kidney disease . Cystic kidney disease is actually either genetic or acquired disease. It is characterized by renal enlargement along with multiple cysts. Ultrasound is sufficient in making the diagnosis and also measures its size. The acquired cystic disease is associated with advanced stages of chronic kidney disease which is easily distinguishable on the basis of kidney sizes. Although , sonography is also useful in recognising the infected or haemorrhage cysts.
- Ultrasound sonography is easy to use and often available at times, it has revolutionized the performing of percutaneous procedures and has an enhanced success rate with reduced complication rates.
- Ultrasound sonography is also very useful in screening hydronephrosis.
Can Ultrasound sonography diagnose chronic kidney disease?
- Chronic kidney disease is becoming a worldwide public health problem and also a risk factor for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. For screening a kidney disease, ultrasound sonography is very important for the early detection of kidney disorders.
- Analysing a patient’s own professional knowledge and experience along with the clinical description of ultrasound helps to identify the stages of kidney disease as well.
- Ultrasound sonography clearly displays the size and structure of kidneys and also dynamically observes the blood flow thereby reducing unnecessary invasive examinations.
- The three dimensional ultrasound displays a more clear image that reflects the morphology of kidneys and collects imaging information more intuitively.
What are the demerits of ultrasound sonography tests for chronic kidney disease?
- According to the reports published by American College of radiology, no such contradictions have been reported while using the ultrasound sonography technology for detecting kidney problems.
- However, ultrasound sonography does not use any harmful radiation but on a prolonged trip to the ultrasound with anybody part may cause some irritable problems. So a technician or a radiologist should not put the ultrasound equipment at the same place for a long time.
- Also the costs of this test varies from place to place and from person to person depending upon their health conditions.
How are ultrasound sonography results interpreted for kidney problems?
After the test results arrive, the results are first reviewed by the radiologist and major considerations are made and are sent to that specific health care provider who ordered the test that is your nephrologist. Later on, the major problems and discussions on certain medications are regulated according to their specific health conditions published in reports.
How is the ultrasound sonography technique conducted?
- Ultrasound sonography is one of the common and precise examination techniques, however, it does not need any particular preparation of the patient but is performed in patients in supine position.
- In this test, kidneys are examined in longitudinal as well as transverse scan planes with the transducer usually placed in the flanks.
- Although the whole kidneys can be examined during the normal respiration or can be conducted in the breath hold as kidney follows the diaphragm and change its position accordingly
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