Chronic Kidney Disease Overview

Two bean-shaped organs located in the retroperitoneal space, responsible for filtering waste products from the blood and producing urine.

The outer layer of the kidney, containing the glomeruli and tubules.

The inner layer of the kidney, containing the collecting ducts and loops of Henle.

The central space within the kidney, containing the renal pelvis, calyces, vessels, and fat. It's filled with fluid and appears as a darker region on imaging.

Triangular structures located in the renal medulla, forming the functional units of the kidney that collect urine from the nephrons.

A funnel-shaped structure located within the renal sinus, collecting urine from the calyces and passing it to the ureter.

Small, cup-like structures that collect urine from the nephrons and drain into the renal pelvis.

A muscular tube that carries urine from the kidney to the bladder.

A condition developed by patients on dialysis where multiple cysts form throughout both kidneys, leading to decreased kidney function. The kidneys often appear shrunk and echogenic on ultrasound.

A common complication of CKD (Chronic Kidney Disease) in patients on dialysis. It leads to the development of multiple cysts throughout the kidneys.

The treatment of choice for end-stage renal disease. A healthy kidney from a living or deceased donor is surgically implanted into the patient.

The most common cause of renal disease leading to kidney transplantation.

A potential complication after renal transplantation. It refers to damage to the tubules of the transplanted kidney, leading to poor function.

A triangular, hyperechoic area seen on the anterior aspect of the upper pole of the kidney, representing a partial fusion of the fetal kidney lobes.

A thickened portion of the renal cortex that extends into the renal sinus, appearing as a bulge.

A condition where the renal pelvis is located outside the kidney, but still connected to the kidney via the ureter.

A break-down product of skeletal muscle filtered by the kidneys, used to assess renal function.

The renal arteries and veins are best seen in this plane because the sound waves are perpendicular to the vessels, allowing for a clearer image.

Triangular hyperechoic area found on the anterior aspect of the upper pole of the kidney. It is a remnant of the fetal kidney lobulation, often mistaken for a tumor.

A thickened portion of the renal cortex that extends into the renal sinus, appearing as a bulge. It is a normal variant and should not be mistaken for a tumor due to its typical location.

A condition where the renal pelvis is located outside the kidney, but still connected to the kidney via the ureter. This is a normal anatomical variation and is easily identified on ultrasound.

Renal artery stenosis is a narrowing of the renal artery, which can lead to reduced blood flow to the kidney and hypertension.

A resistive index (RI) is a measurement of the resistance to blood flow in a vessel, often used to assess the health of a transplanted kidney.

Parvus Tardus describes a small, slow pulse waveform in the renal artery, indicating possible renal artery stenosis.

Renal artery thrombosis is a blockage of the renal artery, often causing sudden pain, hematuria, and a rise in blood pressure.

A renal vein thrombosis is a blockage of the renal vein, often causing symptoms like nephrotic syndrome, hematuria, and kidney enlargement.

A renal cell carcinoma is the most common solid renal mass in adults.

A Wilm's tumor is the most common childhood renal mass.

A mesoblastic nephroma is the most common neonatal solid renal tumor.

A condition where the blood supply to the kidney is blocked, often by a clot or narrowed blood vessel. This can cause damage to the kidney tissue.

An ultrasound finding where the kidney is enlarged and the tissue appears less reflective (hypoechoic). This can be a sign of kidney infection or inflammation.

A severe form of kidney infection where bacteria invade the renal tissue. It's often caused by bacteria ascending from the bladder.

A focal area of infection in the kidney where the affected area appears less reflective (hypoechoic) on ultrasound. This is similar to the appearance of a kidney infarction.

A life-threatening complication of kidney infection where gas bubbles form in the kidney tissue. This is more common in people with diabetes.

Artifacts on ultrasound that appear as bright lines or streaks caused by the reflection of sound waves off gas bubbles within the kidney. This is a sign of Emphysematous Pyelonephritis.

Ultrasound findings in Emphysematous Pyelonephritis showing gas bubbles within the renal parenchyma (kidney tissue).

A treatment option for Emphysematous Pyelonephritis where the entire kidney is surgically removed.

A type of chronic pyelonephritis caused by long-term obstruction and recurrent infections. It is characterized by renal enlargement, abscesses, and a staghorn calculus.

A serious complication of pyelonephritis where pus collects in the renal pelvis and calyces. It usually arises from blockage of the urinary tract.

A mass of fungal material found in the urinary tract, often seen in patients with fungal infections. It appears as a hyperechoic, non-shadowing mass on ultrasound.

The most common cause of fungal infections worldwide. It can cause urinary tract infections and form fungal balls in the urinary tract.

A sonographic finding in XGP that includes multiple low-density areas within the renal parenchyma. It's often seen in combination with other features like abscesses and staghorn calculus.

A sonographic finding in pyonephrosis that shows hyperechoic debris within the dilated collecting system. It indicates the presence of pus in the collecting system.

The outer layer of the kidney is thinned in chronic pyelonephritis. This occurs due to repeated kidney infections and inflammation.

This is characterized by recurring renal infections due to conditions like anatomical abnormalities, obstructions, or ureteral reflux. It can lead to kidney failure.