Quantitative evaluation of residual renal function in children with hydronephrosis by automatic measurement of three-dimensional ultrasound volume

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the clinical value of three dimensional ultrasound volume automatic measurement (VOCAL) in evaluating residual renal function (RRF) in children with hydronephrosis. Methods Sixty-eight children with hydronephrosis (unilateral) who were treated at our hospital from July, 2016 to September, 2018 were selected as study objects. VOCAL was used to measure the children’s renal function, including hydronephrosis (HV), renal volume (RV), renal parenchymal volume (RPV), and volume ratio of hydronephrosis (HVR). The glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was detected by dynamic renal imaging. Pearson correlation analysis was used to analyzed the relationship between HVR and GFR. ROC curve was used to analyze the value of HVR in the diagnosis of GFR. Results Three-dimensional ultrasound detected 7 cases of grade 1 hydronephrosis, 23 grade 2, 28 grade 3, and 10 grade 4. The children’s HVR increased with hydronephrosis, with statistical difference between each two of the groups (P<0.01). The RV was significantly higher and the RPV and GFR were significantly lower in the children with grade 3 and 4 hydronephrosis than in those with grade 1 and 2, with statistical differences (all P<0.01). The results of Pearson correlation analysis showed that there was a positive correlation between RPV and GFR (P<0.01), and a negative correlation between RPV and GFR (P<0.01).The area under the curve of HVR for the diagnosis of GFR was 0.855, the diagnostic specificity was 79.10%, and the sensitivity was 87.50%. Conclusion VOCAL technique can dynamically evaluate the function of RRF in children with hydronephrosis. Key words: Residual renal function; 3D ultrasound; Quantitative evaluation; Hydronephrosis