* CT or MRI scans – these sophisticated scans involve lying still inside a machine as it takes images of the internal organs. The pictures that result can give a very good idea of whether cancer might be present but aren 't absolutely definite as cell samples are needed to make a full diagnosis. Scans are often done in order to guide a biopsy to suspicious areas.
Perform a urinalysis when possible to find levels of Specific Gravity (how concentrated the urine is), pH, Protein, Blood, Nitrites, Leukocytes, Ketones, Glucose and Bilirubin. The results of this test can help identify any possible impairment in renal function and identify the presence of an infection (Vera, 2011).
Kidney stones are hard, crystalline deposits in the kidney. They are usually hexagonal, eighty percent of which are made of calcium. These calcium stones are two to three times more common in men, and are most likely to reoccur. The calcium oxalate versions most likely result from eating specific food. One percent of stones are cystine stones, which have to do with
Lab test will help the doctor rule out other causes and can determine if Crohn’s disease is present. It can check signs of inflammation, infection and internal bleeding. The imaging test can help identify the severity and location of the disease. (CT scans, colonoscopy, and other x-rays). The doctor can also look inside your body with a tube, which is also called an endoscope.
Fig (31): Twinkle artifact (red arrow) behind a stone at the ureterovesicular junction. The stone was not visible on gray-scale ultrasound, and visualization of the twinkle artifact made the diagnosing of urolithiasis possible (Chen Q, Zagzebski J A., 2004).
A CT of the abdomen and pelvis without contrast dated 07/27/2017 revealed no evidence of a kidney stone. There as a tiny fat-containing ventral abdominal wall hernia just to the right of the midline.
This will also help exclude bilateral obstructions in high risk patients. Sonography has the ability to use Doppler, which aids in assessing renal perfusion. This procedure is non-invasive, does not use radiation, or contrast. There is less long term effects that may affect the patient later on down the road. The technologists have the ability to see blood flow of the kidney. This imaging modality has the capability of detecting cysts, obstructions, fluid collection by using sound waves. With many patients having allergies to contrast, having claustrophobia by being in a MRI or possibly a CT, this modality allows the patient to be comfortable without any fears. There are some factors which can affect the diagnosis such as obesity, barium in the intestines from a previous barium study, and intestinal gas (Hopkins medicine.org, 2018). Sonography seems to be the best way to go when it comes to diagnosing a patient with renal failure. The ability to determine fluid, abscesses, shape, location, and size of organs seems to best way to help protecting patients from radiation damage and contrast allergies. Kidneys are an important part of life, it is imperative we do what is needed to make sure they are functioning to keep us
Distal ureters are somewhat difficult to trace. The radiopaque densities in the pelvis and the vicinity of the distal ureters favor to be vascular in nature and less likely nonobstructing stones in distal ureters. Negative for definite hydronephrosis or hydroureter.
This way they can see if the kidney is an abnormal size, if the kidney is scarred, or if there are any cysts (it’s rare to see cysts). By using ultrasound imaging, they can even diagnose fetuses with ARPKD.
There are also a few tests that will show whether or not the kidneys are filtering the body’s fluids as they should. A simple urinalysis can be done to detect protein or blood in the urine. This will alert the medical professionals to a possible problem with the proper functioning of the kidneys. There are also Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) tests that will measure the
obstruction to the kidneys, an imaging test which include CT scans or MRI to reveal a more
Venography – this test is a special x-ray and more accurate than the ultrasound. A radioactive dye is injected into the vein to help illuminate the blood clot.
A kidney cancer diagnosis typically begins with a complete medical history and a physical exam. Your doctor may also recommend blood and urine tests. If your doctor suspects a problem or if you're at high risk of kidney cancer, you may also have one or more of the following tests to check your kidneys for growths or tumors:
If you have or have ever had a blockage of urine flow or liver disease
Kidney stones (renal lithiasis) are small hard deposits,made of mineral and acid salts, that form inside your kidneys. Kidney stones form when the urine becomes concentrated, and minerals crystallize and bind together. Usually the chemical balance in urine prevents the crystals from forming. If the crystals stay small , they will pass out of the body through the urine. This is not always the case for everyone,so some people form stones. A common variety of stone contains calcium plus other chemicals which is a part of our regular diet and are important parts of the body,like bones and muscles.