Ultrasound findings in dual kidney transplantation

Abstract

This study was done to analyse colour Doppler ultrasound (CDUS) findings in patients with dual kidney transplantation (DKT) and to compare renal volume and resistive index (RI) values between DKT and single kidney transplantation (SKT). We reviewed the clinical and imaging findings [30 CDUS, five magnetic resonance (MR) and one computed tomography (CT) examination] in 30 patients with DKT (23 men and seven women; median age 65 years; range 55-82). Three patients had clinical signs of graft malfunction. Renal volumes and RI were compared with those of 14 SKT patients and comparable levels of renal function. Three patients had graft dysfunction: one had chronic rejection and two had pathologies involving one kidney only (one encrusted pyeloureteritis of a left graft and one occluded main artery of a left graft). Asymptomatic unilateral pathologies were seen in six cases. In asymptomatic DKT patients, no significant differences in length, volume, cortical echogenicity and RI between the two kidneys were observed; DKTs were smaller (median volume 116.7 vs. 171.6 cc) and had higher RIs (0.76 vs. 0.68) (p<0.01) than SKTs. CDUS provides useful information in patients with DKT, allowing detection of clinically unsuspected unilateral diseases. At comparable levels of renal function, DKT patients had higher RI and lower volumes than SKT patients.