Ultrasound evaluation of renal length of healthy adults in University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Nigeria

Abstract

Context: Renal length which can be determined with ultrasonography is a reliable singular renal dimension for the assessment of the kidney size both in normal and pathologic conditions. Aim: This study aimed at determining renal size by evaluating length in healthy adult Nigerians in the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital. It also aimed to correlate the renal length with age, sex and weight of this group and determine the variation in size in both kidneys. Materials and Methods: This study was carried out at the Radiology Department of University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital. Four hundred healthy adults comprising of two hundred and eighty four females (71%) and one hundred and sixteen males (29%) who fulfilled the inclusion criteria were recruited into the study. Biodata was obtained and the length of the kidneys was measured using real time gray scale ultrasound scanning via the transabdominal route. Data Anaysis: Data obtained was analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 17.0 (SPSS Inc. Chicago IL, USA). Results: The mean renal length in males (10.6cm) was slightly higher than in females (10.5cm). The left kidney (10.8cm) was longer than the right kidney (10.4cm) in both sexes. There was a positive correlation between the mean length of both kidneys and body weight, but no correlation between the mean length of the kidneys and the age of subjects. A decline of renal length after the age of sixty years was seen. Conclusion: Normal values for length and variations in size of the kidneys in healthy adults in south-south Nigeria have been established.