Renal

RENAL ULTRASOUND

Renal ultrasound focuses on the kidneys and the urinary bladder. It may detect kidney stones, tumors, cysts, renal failure, and other pathologies.

The renal ultrasound exam requires a full bladder, to prepare for the exam, you will be asked to drink 32 ounces one hour prior to the exam.  During the exam you will be asked to empty your bladder then a few additional images will be taken of the empty bladder to assess bladder function.

You will be asked to pull down or remove any clothing that may interfere with the scan.  If asked to remove clothing, you will be given a gown to wear and/or draped with a sheet. The patient lies on their back on an examination bed. A water-soluble gel is applied to the skin to help the ultrasound transducer (wand) move smoothly over the skin and produce better images (at CURE Diagnostics we warm the gel before applying).  The sonographer will gently press the transducer on your abdominal and pelvic area and move it back and forth to image the kidneys or bladder.  You may be asked to take deep breaths or lay on your side during the examination to allow better visualization of the right and left kidneys. Once the procedure has been completed, the gel will be wiped off.

The acquired images (sonograms) are interpreted by a registered diagnostic medical sonographer then sent to a board-certified radiologist for creation of a diagnostic ultrasound report detailing your results and diagnosis.